Frank "Cannonball" Richards

Frank "Cannonball" Richards"
Frank "Cannonball" Richards isn't a household name but chances are you have seen him before...

You may have seen his picture on the cover of the Van Halen "III" CD, or you may have caught him spoofed in an episode of The Simpons, or maybe you have even seen the famous footage as it has been used in several commercials over the years, either way he will go down in history as the man with the world's hardest stomach.

He began by simply letting folks punch him in the stomach (including Jack Dempsey and "Red" Buman, pictured above)and it hardly had an effect. From there they went to breaking boards over his gut, full-out blows with a sledge hammer and finally he allowed a cannon to shoot him dead-center in the stomach.

Despite engineers estimating the impact of the 104 lb. cannon ball on his stomach at 5000 lbs. of force, it, nor any of the other blows had any effect.

Strength feat or act of lunacy?

You be the judge, either way it is impressive.

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