There are dominant champions—and then there’s Levan Saginashvili.
For years, the Georgian powerhouse has towered over the arm wrestling world, dismantling elite opponents with a level of control that borders on untouchable. And if anyone understands just how steep that mountain is, it’s Devon Larratt.
During his appearance on Brian Shaw’s podcast, Larratt offered a rare, unfiltered look into what it actually takes to challenge – and potentially defeat – the sport’s most feared figure.
The verdict? It’s going to take something extraordinary.
Larratt has faced Saginashvili twice, and both encounters told a similar story. The first was brutally one-sided, ending in a clean sweep with Larratt unable to mount resistance. The second offered a flicker of hope – he managed to disrupt Levan early – but it didn’t last.
Reflecting on those battles, Larratt didn’t shy away from the reality of what he was up against.
He said: “It drew a lot of attention, we got a lot of eyeballs on the sport. I wish I could have given him more of a fight. He is an incredible champion. Levan is everything.
“It was interesting, because, you know, the first time I faced him, I got an injury in the second round. I partially tore my bicep… I trained so hard (for the second match) based on the information that I got to try and counter him.
“Yeah, I was like ‘Oh My God, It Is Going To Happen’ (in the first round). I have control of his wrist, but there is many pieces to Levan. I had this one spot where I could contest him a little bit, but he very quickly found other answers. It will be very difficult to defeat Levan. It will take something special.”
That phrase – “many pieces” – sums up the problem. Saginashvili isn’t just strong. He’s complete. Strength, structure, technique, composure – he brings all of it, and when one door closes, he finds another almost instantly.
For Larratt, the rivalry wasn’t just another chapter in his career. It was the summit.
“Going up against Levan is such a trip. I call it my ascent to Everest. It is like trying to climb Mount Everest. To me, it is the pinnacle of my arm wrestling career,” he said.
“At the end of 2018, I had a match against Denis Cyplenkov, left-handed. When that match was done, I stopped training my left hand. So, since November 2018, until Levan 2024 six weeks ago, I only trained my right hand. I didn’t train my body, I didn’t train my left hand.
“I only trained my right hand like three or four times a day, for six years.”
It’s a staggering level of commitment – six years of hyper-focused preparation, all directed at one goal. And still, it wasn’t enough.
That’s where Larratt’s breakdown becomes particularly revealing.
In his eyes, the blueprint to beating Saginashvili doesn’t just lie in better technique or smarter strategy. It starts with physical reality.
He explained: “Right now, nobody is close (to Levan). The top guys, all of them, are heavy underdogs. I think, to beat him, that there isn’t much of a chance for anyone under 300 pounds… He is around the high 300 pounds.
“It is more about the bone structure, when you see him, he doesn’t look blown up at all. He is supposed to be that big. So I think it is going to take a guy who has a frame of 6-ft 4-in or 6-ft 5-in with metamorphic tendencies.”
In other words, this isn’t just about building strength – it’s about being built for it.
And that’s where an intriguing name enters the conversation: Brian Shaw.
The four-time World’s Strongest Man is making waves in the world of arm wrestling, with Larratt himself travelling to Colorado to help guide his development. Shaw ticks the physical boxes Larratt believes are essential – size, frame, and raw power – and the suggestion is clear: if anyone fits the mould, it’s him.
Featured image credit: levansaginashvili / Instagram / ShawStrength Podcast / YouTube
