On September 28, during the highly anticipated King of the Table 12 in Dubai, Leonidas Arkona will challenge the legendary Devon Larratt. The latter, with his experience and an exceptional track record, seems to approach this event with unshakeable confidence. But the question many are asking is this: Leonidas, with his three years of experience in the field, does he have a chance of overthrowing the Canadian legend?
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Engin Terzi’s analysis: a possible surprise?
According to Engin Terzi, it would be premature to completely eliminate Leonidas from the equation. Although his recent confrontation against John Brzenk, considered the greatest of all time (GOAT), ended in defeat, Leonidas demonstrated remarkable strength and endurance. He pushed Brzenk to his limits, forcing the latter to draw on all his experience and technical repertoire to win. This match, even lost, was a real lesson for Leonidas, who showed that he could stand up to the best.
Leonidas himself admitted to having learned a lot from this confrontation, particularly about the importance of versatility. By relying solely on the top roll, he came up against the limits of this technique. For his next confrontation, he could well surprise by having integrated new strategies, such as “the press”, a technique Brzenk used to beat him three times in their last fight.
Leonidas’ advantage: a formidable left arm
Another key element to consider is Leonidas' left arm superiority. Left-handed by nature, his left arm is even more powerful than his right arm, already impressive. However, this peculiarity seems to leave Devon unmoved. During their meeting after the clash with Brzenk, when Leonidas declared that he would be his next opponent, Devon simply replied:“Today you learned a lesson. On the 28th, I will give you another one".
It should also be noted that the two men have already had the opportunity to face each other during sparring, a little over a year ago. On this occasion, Devon Larratt had dominated Leonidas, both on the right arm and on the left arm. However, Devon weighed about 275 pounds (124kg) at that time, more than 20 pounds heavier than he does today. This difference in weight could work in favor of Leonidas, who has since not only progressed in arm wrestling, but also gained in general strength, although he weighs 5 kilos less than in his last match against John Brzenk.
Devon Larratt: the serenity of a champion
Devon Larratt, true to himself, does not hide his confidence. In a recent video, he bluntly stated:“I like him, but I’m going to destroy this guy. I'm realistic: I'm too strong for him. Do I need to train? I don't think so. »
Devon says he hasn't seriously trained his left arm in six years, except for a few sparring sessions, but he now feels an increase in power in his left arm since he started training again.
A historic moment for the Larratt clan
The King of the Table 12 will also mark a historic moment for Devon Larratt and his family, as his son, Auden Larratt, will also have his match against the Korean Hulk during this event. Seeing a father and son fight on the same card is a first in professional arm wrestling history, and both are looking forward to supporting each other during this unique event.
Despite his displayed confidence, Devon does not underestimate the importance of preparation, as evidenced by a recent video where we can see him arm wrestling against an opponent using both hands.
Conclusion: Can Leonidas create a surprise?
With his experience and the resumption of his intensive training on his left arm, Devon Larratt is undoubtedly the favorite. However, in the world of arm wrestling, nothing is ever written in advance. Leonidas, with his recent experiences and rapid progress, may well be able to beat the odds. He has already created a surprise, notably against School Boy at East vs West 12. Obviously, this will not be an easy task for Leonidas, far from it. But if he succeeds, it will be a great achievement on the part of the German.
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