The collision of worlds doesn’t get much more dramatic than this.
A former World’s Strongest Man stepping into the ring against an unbeaten boxer from one of Britain’s most famous fighting families was always going to raise eyebrows — but now, with Eddie Hall vs Tommy Fury in June, those inside the strength and combat sports circles are starting to weigh in.
And when Brian Shaw speaks, people listen.
The four-time World’s Strongest Man has spent years around elite-level power athletes, and he knows exactly what Hall brings to the table. While many will naturally point to Fury’s experience and unbeaten record, Shaw isn’t dismissing the threat coming from the other corner — far from it.
Hall, who is set to face Fury in Manchester on June 13 in a Misfits Boxing spectacle, enters the bout as the clear underdog in terms of boxing pedigree. Fury has built his reputation in the ring, navigating the influencer boxing scene while maintaining a perfect record.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Hall’s raw physicality — and more importantly, his explosive power — has become the central talking point ahead of the fight. Despite having just one professional boxing outing, a loss to Hafthor Bjornsson back in 2022, the former strongman has continued to evolve, even stepping into MMA recently, where he knocked out Mariusz Pudzianowski.
For Shaw, that evolution matters — but it’s the sheer force behind Hall’s punches that stands out most.
“I’ve seen him throw punches and hit a punching machine while we were together,” Shaw explained to TalkSport.
“He is no joke, he packs a lot of power in his punches. That would be the super dangerous thing for Tommy. If he can land one of those, then I’m not sure how well he could take the force of that, it will be huge.
“The question will be is can Eddie land? But Eddie is a very powerful guy.”
That, in essence, is the entire fight distilled into one question.
Can Hall land?
Because if he does, everything changes.
The reality, though, is that Fury holds a significant advantage in experience, timing, and technical ability. He’s spent years refining his craft, understanding distance, and managing fights — areas where Hall remains relatively untested.
Even Shaw acknowledges that.
Despite backing Hall’s capabilities, he stopped short of predicting an upset, pointing instead to the gulf in boxing-specific experience and the unknown variables surrounding the bout.
With the official rules yet to be confirmed, there’s also uncertainty over how the fight will play out stylistically. Hall’s recent focus on MMA could prove a disadvantage if the contest leans heavily towards traditional boxing rules.
Still, Shaw believes Hall’s mindset could make things interesting.
“I think Eddie with the Pudzianowski fight he was able to use his physical strength,” he said, “The boxing side, he walked into Hafthor match with a torn bicep, he went forward with that and boxed with one hand.
“Eddie can do anything, he has a crazy switch and will go in and give it everything. Tommy Fury is no joke that will be a heck of a challenge. It will be interesting to see if Eddie does a weight cut. But it will be the speed vs power component.”
That final line may be the most telling of all.
Speed versus power — a classic fight dynamic, but rarely seen with such extremes. With over 130lbs separating the two, this isn’t just a clash of styles; it’s a clash of physical realities.
Fury will look to control the pace, stay sharp, and avoid the danger zones. Hall, meanwhile, carries the kind of knockout threat that doesn’t need perfect technique — just one clean connection.
And that’s what makes this fight so compelling.
It’s not just about who’s better on paper. It’s about whether brute force can disrupt precision. Whether experience can neutralise unpredictability. Whether one moment can override everything that came before it.
Shaw has seen enough to know that writing Hall off would be a mistake.
But he also knows exactly how big the task is.
You can buy your tickets for the fight HERE.
Featured image credit: Eddie Hall / YouTube
