"After the Worlds [the World's Strongest Man contest], when I came back home after 17 days in the U.S., I started thinking when I came back with US$3600 for the eighth place in the Worlds," Arild Haugen said, as he explained what led to his decision to leave strongman for better opportunities in boxing.


Them's fightin' words: "You want it where?!" Arild Haugen begs to differ with an official's call made during the Atlas Stones at Fortissimus earlier this year. IronMind® | Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. photo.

"I love strongman, the people in this sport are great, but I sacrifice so much for so little. This is my job, and I am probably one of the 20 best guys in the world, but still there is no money. It is hard work, and all you get back is a little bit of honor from people that are training themselves. I have been in quite many shows at an age of 22, and see how the different competitions are, and I want more and have bigger dreams in my life.

"I got a very good offer if I started boxing. Just to sign the contract I will earn more than I have done so far in strongman, and I love the sport: I used to box before.

"I realized if you want to live out this dream, you will have to do it now and not wait until you are 30 years old . . . Then it's too late in boxing, but I still can come back to strongman whenever I want. There are no age limits in strongman.

"I still haven't signed the contract yet, but I am sure it will turn out very well. So I guess and hope I will be 'The World's Strongest Boxer.'

"I want to thank all the strongman fans all over the world and wish my competitors good luck in the future!

"A new age has begun for 'The Hulk'."