Eddie Hall acknowledges the daunting prospect of stepping into a fight with heavyweight powerhouse Francis Ngannou, admitting the idea is genuinely frightening.
Over the past few years, Hall, known for his strongman achievements, has expanded his involvement in combat sports. Following an exhibition boxing match against Hafthor Bjornsson in 2022 and a unique 2-on-1 bout last year that generated significant highlights, Hall recently made his official mixed martial arts debut. He secured a rapid 30-second victory over fellow strongman competitor, five-time World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski. Having now experienced MMA with four-ounce gloves, Hall indicates he`s definitely not finished competing.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hall outlined his potential future plans, stating he is considering either booking another fight for late 2024 or preparing for a bodybuilding competition. His decision, he noted, hinges on whether a fight promotion presents him with a sufficiently attractive deal. Hall revealed there have been discussions about high-profile potential matchups, including challenging prospects like Francis Ngannou and Ben Rothwell. He mentioned that while various promotions have initiated talks, turning these conversations into signed agreements remains the key challenge, but he remains open to these opportunities.
A potential clash with Francis Ngannou has particularly captured fan imagination, with KSW CEO Martin Lewandowski even suggesting the matchup prior to Hall`s fight with Pudzianowski. Given Ngannou`s status as a lineal heavyweight champion and arguably one of MMA`s most devastating knockout artists, the notion of facing him understandably causes Hall some concern should it ever materialize.
Hall directly addressed the fear, stating, “Getting in the ring with Francis Ngannou, it scares the living sh*t out of me.” He candidly assessed his chances, estimating a 99 percent likelihood of defeat but clinging to the one percent possibility, believing his immense power means he “only got to land one shot and you’ve got it.”
He expressed similar trepidation about potentially facing bareknuckle champion Ben Rothwell. However, Hall emphasized that financial considerations are a primary driver for taking fights, stating he would accept “any fight” if the money is sufficient to provide for his family for generations, while simultaneously praying to avoid serious harm in the process.
Ngannou`s recent combat sports activity has been limited; his last fight was in October. His potential return is currently uncertain following involvement in a tragic traffic incident in Cameroon. These circumstances make a fight with Hall improbable in the immediate future.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a Ngannou bout, Hall has explored other fight concepts. One unique idea he floated is a tag-team style contest, potentially partnering with his recent opponent Mariusz Pudzianowski against multiple fighters. Hall sees this kind of format as highly entertaining and a direction he`d like to pursue in combat sports.
