Eddie Hall is going to have to learn how to clinch again if he wants to avoid being disqualified against Tommy Fury.
2017 World’s Strongest Man winner Hall has been training MMA for the past two years, winning his debut within seconds in 2025. Now, he is returning to the boxing ring for the first time since 2022 as he takes on Tommy Fury on June 13 at the AO Arena in Manchester.
He only got a few weeks of training in for his fight with Hafthor Bjornsson in 2022 after suffering an injury to his bicep. And he has established himself as a much more comfortable MMA fighter after taking the sport up in preparation for a strongman tournament in 2024 that was cancelled.
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Eddie Hall must give up knees in the clinch for boxing debut
Even with all of the crossover in recent years between sports, there is a massive difference between the training and movement when switching between boxing and MMA. One key factor is working within the clinch, which is fully legal and actively encouraged in the cage, but severely limited in the ring.
Eddie Hall has been preparing for years to utilize his massive size by throwing knees and hurting his rival to the body while training for his KSW fight. But against Fury in particular – who infamously pulled out of a fight with Darren Till over fears that he would be kicked – he cannot afford to do anything illegal.
“It’s been tough,” Hall told Bloody Elbow of the transition. “MMA is a completely different ballgame. Two days a week of jiu-jitsu, two days of standing and fighting and using your feet as well obviously for head kicks and body kicks or whatever.
“So it’s been tough to transition back. You’ve got to forget some things, I’m quite used to getting into the clinch and kneeing someone in the ribs.
“I’ve actually done it once or twice in sparring recently and I’ve got to get it out of my head. I’m boxing now, not doing MMA… There’ll be no kicks from me, trust me.”