Vice President Joe Biden and Donald Trump are no strangers to sparring verbally, but in the past week, tensions have escalated. Last Friday, while campaigning for Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, Biden criticized Trump for bragging in 2005 kissing and groping women without their consent. After calling those actions "the textbook definition of sexual assault," Biden went on to say, "The press always ask me, 'Don't I wish I were debating him?' No, I wish we were in high school—I could take him behind the gym. That's what I wish."Biden walked those fighting words back on Monday—a bit: "I want to make it clear I understand what assault is," he said in Ohio. "I'm not in high school. If I were in high school. I used to have a temper in high school, I don't have a temper anymore. Nothing ever bothers me. Look, folks…" Biden trailed off, punching one hand into the other."Eye pokes, eye gauges and groin shocks would not be off his menu," he tells Broadly.But in a match in a ring, Kearns says he'd give the edge to Biden because he appears to be savvy and in better physical condition. "Trump would probably blow his wad early—throw a lot of punches and get worn out really fast. I think if Biden can weather the storm and take him down to the ground, I think he would win."The vice president looks like someone who could take a couple of shots, Kearns continues. "I could see Biden being more schooled and probably wearing down his opponent versus trying to knock him down in the first shot—being more of a tactician. Biden's [also] shorter so he's probably got something to prove."
Advertisement
Unsurprisingly, Trump responded to Biden's comments yesterday during a campaign speech in Florida. "Did you see where Biden wants to take me to the back of the barn? Me," he said, pointing to himself. "I'd love that. I'd love that. Mr. Tough Guy. You know, he's Mr. Tough Guy. You know when he's Mr. Tough Guy? When he's standing behind a microphone by himself. He wants to bring me to the back of the barn. Oh, some things in life you could really love doing."While neither Trump nor Biden appear to have plans to brawl in real life, we couldn't help but wonder who would prevail if they did indeed fight.First, a quick comparison. Biden is almost 74 years old, 6' and reportedly weighs 180 pounds. He does a million arm curls a day, he says. Trump, on the other hand, is younger, heavier, and taller. He turned 70 in June, and told Fox News he's 6'3" and 236 pounds. He also loves to fight, according to tapes released this week by the New York Times.Kevin Kearns, a strength and conditioning coach who's worked with mixed martial arts fighters like Alberto Crane and Kenny Florian and owner of MMA-inspired fitness studio Burn With Kearns, predicts that if Biden and Trump battled in a street fight, the Republican nominee would probably prevail because "he'd fight really dirty."Mr. Tough Guy.
Advertisement
Jason Faglier, an MMA instructor and founder of Faglier's Kempo Karate School, disagrees. "I'd put my money on Trump," he says, regardless of whether the match was in the street or in the cage.Age and height would work in Trump's favor, he argues. "There's not much difference between 30 and 33, but once you hit your 50s, I think every year counts. Height is an advantage for a fighter, in that he can control the range of a fight. He can keep someone at a distance where he can hit someone but they can't hit him.""Trump is bigger, younger and I think he's got more of an aggressive personality," he continues.Trump's only disadvantage? "Keeping his hair out of his eyes," Faglier says.