Grip strength is one of the most important things for a boxer. Not only does it allow you to have a deadly fist, but it can also increase your punching power significantly. During the Riyadh Season in the UK, many combat sports stars like Conor McGregor, Joseph Parker, and Terence Crawford were present to watch the historic Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois.

BBC took this opportunity to conduct a cheeky Ultimate Grip Test competition unofficially and the result might surprise you a little.

Conor McGregor needs an arm day

BBC posted a video on X showcasing every star who participated in the competition. Everyone was excited and wanted to know their strength. McGregor was the first one to try his luck and, shockingly, was only able to squeeze up a score of 55.8. It is a good score for a normal person, but considering it was ‘The Notorious’ doing the test, he left a lot to be desired.

Jarell Miller also ended up on the lower side with a score of 58.8, but he didn’t have his “morning tea and biscuits” at that point, so it was understandable. Crawford was also not able to breach the 60 mark and scored 57 and 46 respectively in his two tries. But the real surprise came when the undefeated welterweight fighter, Conor Benn, was not even able to touch the 50-point mark and squeezed up a measly 47.

Guess we all know who will be hitting their arms more in the gym from now on. But the real surprise came on the other side of the competition as the heavyweights started trying their luck.

Eddie Hearn surprises everyone

Dillian Whyte kicked off the Ultimate Grip Test with a strong showing, hitting 65.8 and setting the tone. But it didn’t take long for Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker to steal the spotlight, casually asking, “What’s a good score?” before crushing the test with an impressive 77.5. It was a display of true heavyweight strength, solidifying his place as one of the division’s strongest.

However, the biggest surprise came when Eddie Hearn, the ever-competitive promoter, decided to give the test a shot. On his first—and only—attempt, Hearn matched Parker’s score of 77.5, much to his own disbelief. Like Parker, Hearn had no idea his grip strength was on par with heavyweight fighters. The Essex native was thrilled to learn that his grip was “Heavyweight boxer level,” adding an unexpected twist to the proceedings.

But it was Cheavon Clarke who left everyone in the dust. Clarke, eager to show off, revealed that he had a similar grip strength machine in his gym and wasn’t shy about putting it to use. When the machine read 85.8, Clarke had cemented his dominance. His confidence was sky-high as he stared directly into the camera and proclaimed, “We the best! There ain’t no contest.”

The Ultimate Grip Test gave fans a fun glimpse into the physical prowess of both fighters and, unexpectedly, Eddie Hearn. But does grip strength really matter in the long run for boxing? Share your thoughts on the test results and what you think they mean for the fighters.