Popular Egyptian 'strong man' pulls 700-ton ship with his teeth

With nothing but grit, muscle and an iron jaw, a hugely popular Egyptian wrestler geared up for an extraordinary challenge Saturday: pulling a 700-ton ship across the water with a rope held only by his teeth.

HURGHADA, Egypt — With nothing but grit, muscle and an iron jaw, a hugely popular Egyptian wrestler geared up for an extraordinary challenge Saturday: pulling a 700-ton ship across the water with a rope held only by his teeth.

"Today, I have come to break the world record," Ashraf Mahrous said in an interview in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada after the challenge.

It was no easy task, but Ashraf Mahrous, also known by his nickname Kabonga, has dazzled before with his astonishing strength. Earlier this year, he pulled a train. He has also singlehandedly pulled a locomotive and four years ago, a truck.

With each achievement, his popularity has soared — children run after him in the streets, where he's known simply as "strong man."

With the ship pull, Mahrous, a 44-year-old native of the port city of Ismalia, hopes to get yet another recognition from the Guinness World Records.