Eddie Hall has stated he doesn`t want to continue any business dealings with his rival Hafthor Bjornsson following their boxing match in 2022.
The two former World`s Strongest Men boxed in 2022 after a long-standing feud. Bjornsson won by decision, although Hall did knock him down. The fight was very popular with viewers.
Currently, Bjornsson is back in strongman competitions, while Hall is training for his MMA debut against Mariusz Pudzianowski at KSW 105 in Poland. Hall is not keen on revisiting his rivalry with Bjornsson.
Payment Issues from First Fight
A significant problem with the first fight between Hall and Bjornsson was the payment. The event attracted so many viewers that the broadcasting system struggled, and both fighters were supposed to receive a seven-figure sum.
However, they were never paid, which Hall partly blames on Bjornsson. In an interview before his fight with Pudzianowski, Hall said, “It`s over. We had disagreements, and he couldn`t accept defeat and argued about it.”
Hall continued, “The wrong person won in that situation, but I did get to punch him, which I enjoyed. He`s returned to strongman because he lacks other options. Let him carry on.”
“I don’t think he’ll ever come back for a rematch, so let him do what he wants. I`m finished with that guy. I think doing business or sports with someone you intensely dislike is a bad idea, and I felt there were too many negative signs.”
“We weren`t paid for the fight! It was supposed to be $1 million each, but it all fell apart. I believe a major part of the problem was people being difficult and wanting guaranteed money instead of relying on pay-per-view earnings, and I think he was a big part of that issue.”
“I don’t want to do business with him. There was too much hatred then, and there still is. It’s not wise to do business, which is what fighting is, with someone you hate so much.”
Hall`s Injury Before Bjornsson Fight
Despite its issues, their fight was exciting and hard-hitting, with both men being knocked down. Together, they weighed about 650lb. Bjornsson had lost a lot of weight, while Hall remained large.
Their fight was initially scheduled for September 2021 but was postponed because Hall suffered a serious injury, from which he had barely recovered by the time of the rescheduled fight. “I tore my left bicep leading up to that fight,” he mentioned.
“I essentially had to fight him with one arm. That fight was a mess for me. But if that hadn`t happened, I`m sure my strength would have been too much. I think I was 8 kilos lighter than him, but there was about a seven-inch height difference. I was strong.”
