Cold River's Sun Wukong stacked in a side view on pavement

Cold River's Sun Wukong, front-facing view showing chest and structure

Cold River's Sun Wukong wearing a weight-pull harness at a sanctioned competition

Cold River's Sun Wukong standing outdoors in a red collar

Cold River's Sun Wukong standing on a show table

Cold River's Sun Wukong ADBA 2024 National Champion graphic

Cold River's Sun Wukong, the World's Strongest Boerboel, close-up

Cold River's Sun Wukong with his handler and trophies after an ADBA event

Cold River's Sun Wukong side profile showing muscle conditioning

Cold River's Sun Wukong pulling a loaded cart on the weight-pull rails

Cold River's Sun Wukong walking off the weight-pull track with his handler

Cold River's Sun Wukong: The World's Strongest Boerboel

By Cold River Boerboels · Updated October 11, 2026

Cold River's "ACE" Sun Wukong is a male Boerboel bred, owned, trained, and handled by Cold River Boerboels. On May 9, 2026, Sun Wukong and his littermate brother, Cold River's Mr. Wednesday, each pulled 22,039 pounds in UPF-sanctioned competition, setting the dog weight-pull world record. Known as "The World's Strongest Boerboel" and "The Mover of Mountains," Sun Wukong is also the first Boerboel to become an ADBA National Champion and the first Boerboel to earn the ADBA ACE weight-pull title.

Sun Wukong at a Glance

Breed: Boerboel (male)

Date of birth: March 18, 2023

Bred, owned, trained, and handled by: Cold River Boerboels

Littermate brother: Cold River's Mr. Wednesday

Registrations: AKC, UKC, and ADBA

Titles: ADBA ACE (first Boerboel to earn it) and ADBA National Champion (first Boerboel, 2024)

Best pull: 22,039 pounds on May 9, 2026, at a competition weight of 164 pounds*

Record progression: 12,142 lb (April 2025), 16,917 lb (November 2025), 22,039 lb (May 2026)

*Competition weight vs. house weight: 164 pounds is Sun Wukong’s competition weight, the weight we bring him in at for sanctioned events because it is where he is most comfortable working and gets his best performance. His house weight, during the off-season and while he is just hanging out on the farm, sits at around 172 pounds.

Weight-Pull Record History

Sun Wukong's official Unified Pulling Federation (UPF) profile shows a clear progression across three Most Weight Pulled performances on rails:

April 12, 2025: 12,142 pounds, first place, Most Weight Pulled and Most Weight Pulled Per Pound, at a competition weight of 162 pounds.

November 8, 2025: 16,917 pounds, first place, Most Weight Pulled and Most Weight Pulled Per Pound. This set the UPF Most Weight Pulled world record at the time and made Sun Wukong the first Boerboel in history to move that much weight. The performance was covered by PR Newswire, Pet Age, StreetInsider, and Bully Max.

May 9, 2026: 22,039 pounds at a competition weight of 164 pounds*, more than 134 times his own body weight. Sun Wukong and Mr. Wednesday each moved the same 22,039-pound load, establishing the world-record mark.

Sun Wukong's limit was never established that day, because we chose not to find it. Read the complete documentation behind the 22,039-pound dog weight-pull world record.

History-Making ADBA Titles

In 2024, Sun Wukong became the first Boerboel ever to win an ADBA National Championship and the first Boerboel to earn the Most Weight Pulled title at an ADBA National Championship. He also became the first Boerboel to earn the American Dog Breeders Association's ACE weight-pull title. The ACE is an earned weight-pull title, while the National Championship recognizes a competition result, so they are separate accomplishments. Learn how titles and sanctioned events work in our dog weight-pulling guide.

Temperament and Structure

Sun Wukong has true Boerboel temperament: a great protector at home, yet a stable dog with great nerves who is easy to handle in public. His career shows what a properly bred, conditioned, and structurally sound Boerboel can do as a working athlete, without giving up the type and character that define the breed.

Bred and Developed by Cold River

Sun Wukong and Mr. Wednesday came from a litter of 14. We kept seven, evaluated their development, structure, movement, drive, temperament, athletic ability, work ethic, recovery, and mental resilience, and narrowed the group down to two. Sun Wukong has been raised, conditioned, trained, harnessed, and handled by Cold River throughout his career. Learn more about Cold River Boerboels.

Sun Wukong's Family and Offspring

Sun Wukong's littermate brother, Cold River's Mr. Wednesday, matched his 22,039-pound performance at the same event. His maternal half-sister, Cold River's ALUCARD, moved 17,076 pounds at her first weight-pull event. Sun Wukong's offspring are now earning ADBA ACE titles as well, a sign that the qualities we select for are carrying into the next generation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sun Wukong

How much weight has Sun Wukong pulled?

Sun Wukong pulled 22,039 pounds on May 9, 2026, in UPF-sanctioned competition. That is the world-record mark he shares with his littermate brother, Mr. Wednesday.

Who owns Sun Wukong?

Sun Wukong is bred, owned, trained, and handled by Cold River Boerboels.

Why is Sun Wukong called the World's Strongest Boerboel?

In 2025, Sun Wukong became the first Boerboel in history to pull 16,917 pounds. In 2026, he and Mr. Wednesday became the first dogs to pull 22,039 pounds in sanctioned competition.

What harness does Sun Wukong pull in?

Sun Wukong pulls in a custom tailored weight pulling harness made by Cold River Supplies. See who made the weight pulling harnesses for the strongest dogs in the world.

Can I get a puppy from Sun Wukong?

Sun Wukong's offspring are already earning ADBA ACE titles. To ask about upcoming litters, see our planned breedings or submit a puppy application.