Tag: Bob Cicherillo
Blessing Awodibu Recaps 2023 Chicago Pro Showing w/ Bob Cicherillo: ‘I Was Soft, It Really Hurts’
Blessing Awodibu is aiming to rebound after failing to secure his Olympia qualification at the 2023 Chicago Pro, won by Justin Shier. In a recent YouTube video with Bob Cicherillo, Awodibu opened up about his lack of conditioning on stage and set his sights on the nearing Texas Pro.
Known for his boisterous personality, Blessing Awodibu quickly established himself as a legitimate contender in the IFBB Pro League. His narrow waist and aesthetic features guided him to success last year, where he commanded gold at two shows: the 2022 Indy Pro and the 2022 New York Pro. His first win secured him a qualification to last year’s Olympia, which would serve as his debut on the sport’s biggest stage.
Considering his success last year, Awodibu entered the Olympia contest last December brimming with confidence. Hours before competing, he stole the show at the Olympia Press Conference, where he and Nick Walker exchanged in a memorable back and forth.
However, on the Olympia stage, Blessing struggled against a historic lineup that featured several new threats such as Andrew Jacked, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, and Rafael Brandao. In the end, ‘The Boogieman’ placed outside of the top 15. And while he had hoped to lock down his passage to Olympia last weekend, fan-favorite Awodibu was unable to bring his best. As a result, he walked away in fourth place. To recap the experience, he joined athletes rep Bob Cicherillo.
Blessing Awodibu on 2023 Chicago Pro Performance: ‘I Was Soft, It Was a Really, Really Tough Prep’
Despite his status as a pre-contest favorite, Awodibu explained that outside pressures affected his ability to shred down for the competition.
“Came in as the pre-contest favorite, didn’t look like it went your way my friend, what happened out there man?” Bob Cicherillo asked.
“What happened out there, man? I mean, shit. I mean, I don’t know I couldn’t tell you, man. It was a really really tough prep man. Especially mentally and there was a lot on the line for me and a lot of pressure. It was a lot of pressure. And tonight, I was soft man, I was soft,” Blessing Awodibu shared.
“You looked big as a house, it looks like you put on some good muscle, meaning you were big, full, a lot of muscle, but just didn’t wring out that last bit of water,” said Cicherillo.
Awodibu revealed that he was ten pounds heavier than last year. Next, Awodibu announced his plans for the 2023 Texas Pro next month.
“Yes. That tightening wasn’t there. I was a little bit too wet. I just – I just got to figure it out man. I know when I do figure it out man it’s like – I feel like I’m in a whole different league. I just got to find that faith and that’s another one for me now. That’s two in a row. This should not be happening. This should not be happening.”
“Honestly I’m 10 pounds heavier, I thought it would have been a good thing,” said Awodibu. “I will figure it out guys. Because I know man, I deserve to be one of the best. When I miss like this, it really hurts. This should not be happening. You know, it’s bodybuilding, it’s a journey. You learn from these things and you can only get better as long as you keep moving.”
“We still got Texas,” said Awodibu.
In a separate Instagram post, Awodibu elaborated on his preparations and what went wrong.
“We nicely brought the body down from 306 to 276 keeping the fullness & roundness, the condition was definitely behind but honestly I was so damn excited with the way things were going until shit start to go iffy leading to Chicago.But right now I’m getting the wheels back on track with coach @cameron_cheek Road to O continues” Blessing Awodibu shared.
If Awodibu enters the upcoming Texas Pro, he’ll have plenty of top-tier talent to worry about. Defending 2022 Texas Pro champ Andrew Jacked will aim to earn his Olympia entry at this event. In addition, Hunter Labrada is slated to compete in Texas. He’s on a mission to redeem himself after falling to seventh place on the Mr. Olympia stage last year.
In addition to the above frontrunners, fans, and the bodybuilding community are excited to see mass monster Carlos Thomas Jr. make a splash on an IFBB Pro Open stage. While Carlos had to pull out of the New York Pro, he’s making it his mission to defeat Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada in Texas. The show takes place August 18-19.
As Bob Cicherillo suggested, Awodibu has clearly put on quality size. Should he manage to dial in his conditioning next month, with or without a coach, he’d be a definite title threat on the 2023 Texas Pro stage.
RELATED: Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev Talk Hassan Mostafa & Blessing Awodibu’s Potential + Lack of Athletes Entering Shows
Watch the full video from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel below:
Published: 26 July, 2023 | 3:45 PM EDT
Carlos Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro for Olympia Entry
American bodybuilder Carlos Thomas Jr. is one of the fastest-growing names in the fitness industry. He’s set to make his pro debut and has gained a ton of attention already. In a recent video uploaded on Olympia TV’s YouTube channel, Thomas Jr. backed himself to join the Mr. Olympia roster by defeating Hunter Labrada and Andrew Jacked at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. first rose to prominence for his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry after dominating the competition at the 2021 NPC National Championships. He emerged as one of the most promising prospects after his victory in the super heavyweight division and overall. The win earned him his pro card. However, he has been on the sidelines in preparation since.
Although Thomas Jr. intended to participate in the 2023 New York Pro, which concluded with Tonio Burton taking home the top prize two months ago, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to a major issue with his ulcer colitis. He did not let the setback hold him down and plans to finally make his highly anticipated pro debut at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
There has been a surge in budding talent in the Men’s Open division over the last few years. Legacy competitor Hunter Labrada, son of Lee Labrada, established his place in the mix of title contention with a fourth-place finish in only his second Mr. Olympia appearance in 2021. He received a lot of praise for his jacked frame and posing skills going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Along with Labrada, rising sensation Andrew Jacked made waves with his aesthetic package. He turned in one of the best rookie seasons last year, scoring back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
In the end, Labrada missed the mark on the Olympia stage last December. He dropped out of the top six and settled for seventh place. As for Jacked, he turned in an impressive performance and cracked the top ten in his Mr. Olympia debut, finishing eighth.
Both competitors are on the hunt to secure their entry for the 2023 Mr. Olympia and will face Carlos Thomas Jr. at the nearing Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. Confirmes He’ll Do 2023 Texas Pro
In a recent YouTube video, Carlos Thomas Jr. confirmed his plans to compete at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
“Yes, I’m doing the Texas Pro,” said Thomas Jr. “Less than five weeks they’re going to see something that’s going to be brand new and it’s going to shock a lot of people. We’re going to be bringing some enthusiasm to the sport for the rest of the year.”
Thomas Jr. opened up on his reasons for pulling out of the New York Pro due to ulcer colitis.
“Issues we had going into New York with the ulcer colitis, that kind of put a damp on everything. We chose the show kind of far this out because I wanted to take things a little bit slower and make sure that I didn’t incur any flare-ups from the stress of trying to force the body to get ready. We were just kinda going like when it’s ready, it’s ready. So far, it’s been going in a smooth and consistent pace, barely any hiccups. That’s why we chose Texas because it was one of the ones that was farthest out and allowed us to make manipulations and not stress my body out.”
Thomas Jr. opened up about his struggles with heartburn in the past and argued he would’ve won the New York Pro if he competed.
“I used to get a lotta heartburn as a teenager and young adult so in my early 20s. But I’ve been on my gut health regimen for a while now making sure I’m taking my salad and meat, but I’m also doing aloe Vera juice, apple cider vinegar, mushroom root extract, lemon juice, things like that to help with the acidity of my stomach and help break down food. I haven’t been getting any heartburn now for a while.”
“Yeah, I think it’s a show I would have been able to win. I love my boy Tonio, Beef Stu, great guy, but I think bringing in the package that we’ll bring in coming into Texas, it would have been one that I could’ve easily won.”
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo & Olympia Judge Shower Praises on Thomas Jr. for his immense potential
Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler and IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo lauded Carlos Thomas Jr. to be a top-five contender at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yep, if he nails the condition,” said Wheeler.
“Top 5? Absolutely! He’s going to have a chance to prove it because the front-runner, expected favorite as he should be coming up is Hunter Labrada. Everybody knows that. You’re going to take on a guy who’s been as high as fourth place in the Olympia. If Carlos can bring it and beat Hunter Labrada and knock him out of contention and put yourself in there, you got to be feeling really good about your chances of making that top six at the O.”
Thomas Jr. reacted to receiving praise from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.
“It’s still shocking to hear. He told me, ‘hey man, you have the potential to go all the way.; That to me was like blown away. I’m just always blown away even to hear you guys talk about me in this way. I still kind of see myself as a middleweight from back in 2017 so I’m always just humble and gracious.”
Cicherillo believes Carlos Thomas Jr. has everything it takes to become a superstar. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Cicherillo both agreed his side chest post could stand with the best in the game.
“As we talk physiques, and Flex and I have been talking physiques for many many years, we’re always looking at the same first things,” said Cicherillo. “You’re looking at symmetry, proportion, and shape. He checks all those boxes. He ain’t missing nothing. You’re looking for muscularity and conditioning follows up, you got to have everything. Every box has to be checked. But we’re looking for the basics here. Does he have any weak points? Not really. Yes, the back needs to come up, gotta keep that midsection tight, the legs are tremendous. He’s got more quad sweep than anybody we’ve seen come along in a long long time. His back can be eeasily brought up. His thickness from the side can literally hang with anybody right now at the Olympia level. He checks every box to be a superstar. Now the only thing you got to do is actually do it okay.”
“That pose is incredibly. You can put it next to Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan and he looks incredible here,” said El Guindy.
Wheeler and Cicherillo debated whether Men’s Open now prefers shorter contenders over taller ones.
Wheeler: “It went back to a short men’s game. It’s not a tall guy’s game right now. Look at number one and number two in Mr. Olympia.”
Cicherillo: “Wait a minute. I’m going to challenge you on that one big time because you’ve got Samson and Jacked who are both big men coming up and I don’t know if it’s a short man’s game.”
El Guindy backed Thomas Jr. as the best amateur competitor of the last decade.
“In my opinion, he’s the best amateur we have seen in the last decade. He has the thickness and he has the front and side poses to go against some of the top Olympians. If his back is improved, we might just be seeing the future of bodybuilding.”
Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro, Will Take the Year Off Otherwise
Carlos Thomas Jr. explained why he’s confident he’ll beat Hunter Labrada at the show.
“Great physique and this dude is former top four. I feel like my side poses, I have the thickness from top to bottom thickness, hamstring, quads, that’s front to back, I’ll have everything that pose but better. From the front, I feel like I have a better taper, better legs. He has tremendous arms but I feel like my arms match up just as well. From the back, he may have more maturity but as far as muscle wise, I’ve picked that up as well. And conditioning, we’re going to be right on the money comparable. From the glutes and hams, I’ll be strong in that standpoint as well. Ab and thigh, I got that one too.”
He made the case for himself to beat Andrew Jacked at the event.
“He’s awesome but honestly, I remember seeing him at the Arnold. I was there in person. He looked great, tremendous. However, I do feel that in certain poses I just fare better. If we’re talking front double, he has a great front double, great taper but I feel like I have one just as well and I’m thicker than him in certain areas; my legs, my arms, I have better lat thickness. I honestly feel like my front lat spread would bode well against his. Mine is just a more complete pose from top to bottom.
“I really fill in a lot of gaps in that pose. You’ll barely see any. Then, same thing from the side, leg thickness, arm thickness, chest thickness, I feel like I bode well in all those shots. The back poses too, top to bottom, hamstrings, glutes, arms, and everything. I just honestly think that all these poses I just edge them out in certain areas such as in muscularity, symmetry, so I would bode well against them because their weaknesses are my strengths and if anything, you can toss them up one shot, the back double maybe.”
If Thomas Jr. doesn’t come out on top, he will likely take to the sidelines for the year.
“Yeah, I would probably shut it down most likely, I would say I’m about 85 percent sure. I’m no stranger to going back and doing the work.”
Fans will be excited to see Carlos Thomas Jr. inject some fresh blood into the Men’s Open class when he faces Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada on stage in less than five weeks at the 2023 Texas Pro.
You can watch the full video below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/k6hTimnQTvo
Published: 21 July, 2023 | 7:50 AM EDT
Flex Wheeler on Getting Bigger: ‘If Your Frame Can’t Handle It, It’s A Big Mistake’
Kenneth ‘Flex’ Wheeler is a major inspiration for bodybuilders, having cemented a legendary career during the 1990s and 2000s. In a recent Olympia TV video, Wheeler and Bob Cicherillo discussed a few topics like athletes hanging around too long, and chasing size unnecessarily.
Wheeler is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders to ever compete despite a lack of Mr. Olympia titles. He’s a four-time Arnold Classic winner and brought an unparalleled level of detail, proportions, and aesthetics to the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. In addition to his round muscle bellies and slim waist, Wheeler bested some great competitors in his prime, such as Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier.
Looking back on his career, even Ronnie Coleman admits he wouldn’t be where he is today had it not been for Wheeler. Coleman has appeared in interviews and explained that Wheeler introduced him to his long-time trainer, Chad Nicholls. In the years that would follow, Coleman became a dominant eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder whose size was chased by the entire division.
Wheeler has been open with fans about his on-stage battles with Coleman. In an interview with Jay Cutler on the Cutler Cast Podcast, Wheeler reflected on his second-place finish to Coleman in 1998. In hindsight, Wheeler said he was ‘green’ back then, and could have done more both in terms of nutrition and training.
In his latest undertaking, Wheeler joined Bob Cicherillo to discuss athletes who delay retirements. In addition, they examined competitors who are obsessed with adding size at the cost of their physiques.
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo Answer Why Bodybuilders Delay Retirement: “We Are Extreme Athletes”
Flex accepts that he didn’t retire on top and mentioned that he wasn’t looking for an ‘exit strategy’ during the prime years of his career.
“You know, unfortunately, I didn’t get there yet. I felt that I achieved one of my best ever in 1999 at the English Grand Prix. Then, you know, it didn’t go well because I started getting sick. I still was like in a developing stage that I thought I had more in the tank and when I got sick that just changed everything and it changed my ability to compete.
I wasn’t even looking at an exit strategy. Look at Ronnie, Ronnie existed a lot longer after I left. I was looking like I had at least that much time that they did. I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was thinking about I have a third gear to get to and I’m only in second gear,” said Flex Wheeler.
According to Cicherillo, many athletes stick around too long, such as Ronnie Coleman. Seldom do bodybuilders retire on top, like Lee Haney or Lee Priest did.
“I think Ronnie hung out one show too long, you know, Dave I think honestly hung out one show too long, to me, the perfect scenario is you get to write your own story,” added Cicherillo. “We don’t see that a lot. We don’t see a lot of people that write their own ticket off. Yeah, Lee Haney. We haven’t seen that in years.”
“You know, Bob I think it’s because we’re extreme athletes. You look at someone great like Muhammad Ali, you look at that belief, you still have it until someone comes along and proves you don’t. You still believe that. You look at every great. You look at the great Michael Jordan, he came back after going to baseball, he thought he had game going to baseball, it was like nah, this game changed you ain’t no good at baseball. Then, when he came back to basketball, you had Kobe, the younger version of him,” explained Wheeler.
Wheeler & Cicherillo Talk Bodybuilders Being Obsessed with Size & Getting Bigger
Wheeler believes athletes are over-concerned with size and adding tissue instead of focusing on getting better. He said most young competitors nowadays would benefit from losing 15 pounds.
“It’s dysmorphia, especially in our sport, a distorted vision is what I called it and I had it. I never thought I was big enough, I always wanted to put on more size. But it’s not putting on more size, it’s getting better. And bigger doesn’t always mean better, sometimes better is just better.”
“In our sport, it’s probably one of the worst examples that we always feel that we have to get bigger, especially when we turn pro, oh I got to compete with the big boys I better get bigger. That’s always a mistake, especially if your frame can’t handle it.”
“I would almost argue if young men lost 15 pounds of muscle he’d be a more competitive bodybuilder and a more dangerous bodybuilder too,” added Wheeler.
This isn’t the first time that Flex Wheeler has cautioned athletes about adding size. Last year, before the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Wheeler told Wiliam Bonac to avoid chasing the champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s muscularity as it could ultimately work against him. In the end, the last Mr. Olympia contest was determined mostly by the conditioning and balance of Hadi Choopan‘s physique.
And it’s not just Wheeler who is calling for less size in the Open. In April, bodybuilding veteran Tony Pearson joined The Menace Podcast to discuss the role of size in Men’s Bodybuilding. He believes it’s not about size and argued the category should focus more on the lines of a given physique.
While size obviously factors into the upper echelons of the Men’s Open, Flex Wheeler is confident most athletes could find success 15 pounds lighter. He continues to stress that bigger isn’t always better in the world of bodybuilding.
RELATED: 57-yo Flex Wheeler Inspires With Leg Press Workout Using Prosthetic Leg
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 2:58 PM EDT
“$20K Should Be the Minimum” Bob Cicherillo Demands More Prize Money At Bodybuilding Shows
Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo is known for tackling controversially-charged topics. In his latest Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo took issue with low bodybuilding pay and called for a minimum of $20,000 to be distributed at each pro show.
Prize money in bodybuilding has remained steady for quite some time. And over the past decade, competitors have seen the financial landscape change dramatically. From magazine covers to supplement contracts, bodybuilders have been afforded a handful of options for accruing wealth. However, those avenues have mostly dried up. In their wake, social media took over and athletes have adapted and used the platforms to bring in extra income.
Fortunately, the bigger events like the annual Mr. Olympia and Arnold Classic shows continued to offer impressive purses. In fact, 10 years ago, when Phil Heath won his third Mr. Olympia title, he was awarded $250,000. Fast forward to 2022, the latest Mr. Olympia winner, Hadi Choopan, raked in a grand prize of $400,000.
Meanwhile, the second-most prestigious contest of the year, the Arnold Classic’s prize money continues to go up. Last year, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his promotion announced that the prize money had jumped from $200,000 to a staggering $300,000.
And while Bob Cicherillo doesn’t believe the major events need a makeover, he did highlight that smaller shows should start offering more suitable purses given the expenses an athlete incurs before stepping on stage.
Bob Cicherillo Says Bodybuilders Are Opting Not to Compete Due to Low Prize Money
Cicherillo blamed a lack of lucrative supplement contracts and social media for low turnout at contests. He shared that supplement contracts used to have stipulations in which athletes would have to compete at a minimum number of events per year. Bob also said supplement sponsors used to match an athlete’s prize money if they won first place.
“I was thinking about this the other day and thought to myself, ‘Well what has changed over the past 10 years that’s made this a little different.’ Well, lack of supplement contracts. This isn’t a topic a lot of people have explored but as somebody who has been on the block for a few minutes, I can tell you first hand this has absolutely had an impact.
How? Really simple. In the old days, when you signed a supplement contract it was usually in the contract that they wanted you to compete X amount of times throughout the year so you were out there in the marketplace. You were out there representing yourself, representing the company in effect, and putting it forward and of course, they wanted you to win a show or just try and do your best and ultimately try to get to the Olympia,” said Bob Cicherillo.
“If you had an athlete on your staff or on your team so to say, you absolutely want them at the Olympia. It’s the biggest stage we got throughout the year and in the world. Now with that, came bonus structure. Usually, if you were to win a show there was a clause in your contract that might pay you a bonus, maybe it was $5,000 or $10,000 a lot of times they matched the prize money. If you won 20 grand they would match it with a $20,000 bonus. With less contracts coming in for these guys, there’s less bonus structure, and that of course, means there’s less opportunity and less money.”
Since competitors aren’t bound to obligations via a contract, they feel no need to push themselves at various shows throughout the year. Considering the amount of money that can be made on social media, Cicherillo added that there’s not as much incentive to prepare for competitions.
“The guys aren’t feeling the heat that they’ve signed a contract with a company that says you need to compete three times this year. So, has that taken a toll, has that made an impact, I believe it has. There’s no obligation to get out there and compete other than your own goals and even those have changed. Social media has changed over 10 years.
Now, everybody has a platform to get out, put themselves out there, whether you’re a personal trainer, you have a podcast, you have other business ventures, whether you make money on YouTube or any other venture that’s out there. So all of a sudden, it maybe becomes not very important to compete,” said Cicherillo.
Cicherillo says prize money is stagnant and promotions are still disbursing a relative amount to what was awarded 15 years ago. He called for a minimum of $20,000 per show and said bodybuilders who win first place and earn $10,000 are likely losing money after expenses are tallied.
“These purses got to come up, $20,000 should be the minimum.”
“And let’s face it, let’s not overlook and gloss over the fact that the prize money has not really significantly changed in the last 10-15 years. This is not good for anybody. Not in the sport, not in the federation and certainly not for the athletes. A lot of shows are still $10,000 shows. I was complaining about this myself and a host of other people 20 years ago. 20 years ago… we were talking about $10,000 shows. You know what a lot of shows are today, $10,000 I’m talking about first prize. First-place prize money.
Maybe it’s a $20,000 purse, 10 for first, 5 breaks down from there. Literally with those numbers and the market of today, if you win a show and you win $10,000. You take taxes out. You take your expenses out. Preparation, money, travel, everything else that’s concerned. YOu don’t have a company sponsoring you or paying for these things — it’s out of pocket. The guy who wins the show loses money. I’ll guarantee it. If you win $10,000 for a show, you’ve just lost money,” said Cicherillo.
Cicherillo believes the lackluster prize money isn’t good for the sport, the community, or the competitors.
“This is something I do believe we need to look at as an entity, as a federation, as a community, what can the bodybuilding community do to increase prize money at the shows,” wonders Cicherillo. “The money has to come from somewhere. If it comes from sponsors well that’s one thing but sponsors are harder and harder to come by these days because of social media, direct to consumer, a lot of companies don’t have to be out in the marketplace these days.”
“But $10,000 purses and such, again, we all get it’s a stage and platform folks but that’s not going to cut it in this day and age and I think it’s showing itself. A lot of these guys are just opting not to compete. And that’s not good. Not for our sport and it’s not good for any sport.”
This isn’t Bob Cicherillo’s first time addressing low bodybuilder pay. Last August, he joined Dennis James on The Menace Podcast to lay out his opinions on the subject. According to Bob, his best solution for athletes would involve a pay-per-view revenue-sharing system, similar to what is offered to high-level fighters/champions under the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) banner.
Cicherillo, who serves as an athletes rep and announcer for Mr. Olympia, would love to see a prize money increase across the board in the IFBB Pro League. Though, he understands it’s a steep hill to climb since sponsorship opportunities aren’t what they used to be.
RELATED: 2023 Masters Olympia Announces Overall Prize Money at $229,000
You can watch the full video from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 8:33 PM EDT
Iain Valliere To Improve Triceps for 2023 Mr. Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future & Samson Dauda
Anticipation for the upcoming Mr. Olympia continues to build as fans await the contest in less than five months. In a recent Olympia TV interview, Bob Cicherillo and Iain Valliere discussed the Men’s Open division. During the video, Valliere said he doesn’t believe Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay will win back his Mr. Olympia title.
“It’s all a mind game when it gets to this level. If Iain brings his A-game there, he’ll be right back up there, no question about it,” said Bob Cicherillo.
Iain Valliere is one of the most popular bodybuilders from Canada. In a career lasting almost a decade, Valliere has shown great promise, courtesy of his exceptional conditioning and detailed back. He started the 2022 season with an impressive victory at the Vancouver Pro, where he defeated Antoine Vaillant for first. This earned him passage to the season’s biggest show of the year.
The 2022 Mr. Olympia lineup was strong as many debutants planned to make statements. New names on the stage such as Andrew Jacked, Michal Krizo, and Samson Dauda were all labeled dark hoses ahead of the show. And while Ramy dominated the landscape from 2020-2021, a new champion arrived last December to take his title away. Hadi Choopan won gold. Ramy placed fifth, a harsh drop from the year prior.
Without a qualification to 2023 Mr. Olympia, Valliere worked in the off-season to bring his best look to date. He mapped out improvements and detailed his shredding diet for the new season. He targeted this year’s Toronto Pro Supershow. At the event, he battled with Hassan Mostafa in what many fans described as a close contest. Nevertheless, Valliere presented some of his best conditioning and earned his invite.
Iain Valliere Plans to Improve Triceps for 2023 Olympia, Talks Big Ramy’s Future
According to Valliere, Big Ramy won’t win back his Mr. Olympia title but he still believes he can be competitive on other stages like the Arnold Classic.
“I don’t believe Ramy will win the Olympia again. Do I think Ramy has a career ahead of him making money and being a competitive pro bodybuilder? Absolutely. I don’t think you need to be winning the Mr. Olympia to get six-figure contracts or to be a competitive bodybuilder. He can still win shows. He can still do well at the Arnolds.
Like, he was still a top five guy at the Arnold he’s getting a good paycheck he’s still getting good contracts. And look: even when he was off he was still top five at the Olympia. That’s nothing to snuff at right? I still think Ramy is absolutely a top-tier bodybuilder and will continue to be for a few years. But do I think he’s going to win the Olympia again, I do not,” said Iain Valliere.
Admittedly, Valliere says expectations and new talent might have factored into his last Mr. Olympia performance.
“When you had two years of seventh prior, look, the Olympia linup last year was not the same as 2020 or 2021. It was absolutely improved, there was a lot of new guys there, Samson there, Andrew there, Derek in the mix now,” said Iain Valliere. “Obviously there probably was some looming fear in my head that, ‘Shit I’m going to slip places I’m going to slip places,’ and that was shown in my presentation,” explained Valliere.
Looking ahead, Valliere plans to focus on his triceps which he believes will improve at least two of his side poses.
“There are some things still that I think need to be improved here. I had a little bit of loss of volume on my triceps that I think hurt me in the side chest and the side tri that can definitely be improved from a little bit of a nagging elbow issue I was having on that side specifically which is I think going to be a lot better come the Olympia. If we make some small tweaks there, I’m very confident in my shot to be in that group at the Olympia, for sure,” added Valliere.
Valliere & Bob Cicherillo Talk Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Derek Lunsford
In a recent HD Muscle YouTube video, Nick Walker said Samson Dauda’s back was ‘shit’ and ‘flat as a board.’ However, Valliere disagrees. He believes Dauda can establish himself as a true Mr. Olympia contender with improved conditioning, not just back improvements.
“I don’t think I agree with that,” Valliere said. “Samson is making show to show year to year, I don’t think that’s going to be the case for a long time. Even when you look from – bring the conditioning in a little bit more from the Olympia to the Arnold it did show his back a lot better. For a back to look good, your conditioning must be excellent.”
In Bob’s opinion, Dauda’s back isn’t flat and even if it was, Samson still defeated Walker at the Arnold.
“Listen, Nick is being Nick and I appreciate that because I love these guys especially him, he’s not shy about making comments. Listen, is he literally flat as a board? No. And he better hope he’s not flat as a board because he beat him with that flat as a board back,” Cicherillo said.
Since Lunsford no longer abides by a weight restriction, Valliere suspects he’ll improve his conditioning and muscle density.
“In the case of Derek, I think him and Hany played his cards right for the Olympia but now as he gets more muscle maturity and more density to that muscle and he’s held on to it longer because he’s not pushing down to 212 and doing off-seasons, I think we’ll see that conditioning come up more and more and more,” Valliere said.
Lastly, Cicherillo offered Hunter Labrada some words of encouragement ahead of his latest Olympia campaign that starts with the 2023 Tampa Pro in August.
“He’s going to have his cut out for him. Hunter will have to be 100% and more importantly, Hunter has a habit of coming out – and he is just pouring water. He’s got to figure out notably, what he has to do to not be releasing so much water in that first round.”
This isn’t the first time Bob Cicherillo has taken a close look at the Men’s Open bodybuilders expected to compete in Nov. Following Dauda’s 2023 Arnold Classic victory, Bob labeled him alongside Lunsford as Choopan’s two biggest threats.
Big Ramy is also determined to become the only bodybuilder in the Open aside from Jay Cutler to win back an Olympia title. Despite recommendations from Bob and head judge Steve Weinberger to take a break, Ramy has made it clear he’s working ‘angry’ and harder than ever to bring his best physique possible later this year.
Given the number of potential contenders, 2023 Mr. Olympia is shaping up to be an unforgettable event. With his eyes on the first call-out, Iain Valliere plans to improve his triceps and sharpen his posing skills.
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Find complete coverage of the 2022 Mr. Olympia, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final results at our Olympia coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/olympia
Published: 29 June, 2023 | 5:48 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Talks Official Men’s Physique Judging Criteria, Says Thin Legs ‘Can Hurt You’ on Stage
Bob Cicherillo has taken issue with Dave Palumbo over his interpretation of the Men’s Physique rules set to go into effect following 2023 Mr. Olympia. In the latest Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo shared evidence that the Men’s Physique judging criteria takes legs into consideration.
Judging and officiating have taken center stage since last year’s action-packed Mr. Olympia contest. In the end, Hadi Choopan hoisted gold above his shoulders, a victory he earned after years of placing in the top four. Derek Lunsford, meanwhile, also made a statement in his Open class debut by placing runner-up. Given the success of two former 212 competitors, some believe the judging criteria underwent a shift to favor balance, proportions, and conditioning over size and freak factor.
Concerns about judging once again dominated discussions online following Nick Walker‘s loss to Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic. Factoring in Walker’s conditioning levels, some veterans of the sport thought ‘The Mutant’ should have earned first. When the dust settled, even Walker expressed doubts about the judging process as he thought he was the rightful winner.
With fan backlash at an all-time high, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo stepped in. He’s taken to multiple podcasts to explain the fair and proper ways to judge a bodybuilding contest. Bob also provided reasons for why the judges awarded Dauda the victory in Ohio instead of Walker.
Weeks ago, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion announced new changes to the Men’s Physique division. Specifically, the category will impose a weight/height restriction in the coming months. In light of the new statute, Dave Palumbo worried that competitors would ignore leg training in order to game the weight cap. However, in Bob’s opinion, Palumbo couldn’t be more wrong.
“Dave, You’ve Made a Whole Career Out of Lying,” Bob Cicherillo Blasts Dave Palumbo Over Men’s Physique Ruling
According to Cicherillo, competitors could hide their legs 10 years ago but not anymore because the board shorts have changed and now fit tighter on the legs.
“What is it about [Dave] Palumbo that I just have to constantly, constantly correct what he puts out there? So now the big thing is, all this Men’s Physique back and forth is that I’m a liar! And Dave is even mean when he says I’m lying to the athletes, and damn it, he’s not going to take it anymore because he cares so much about the athletes, so much, that he doesn’t even go to the shows. But we’re going to stick with the plot here and actually prove to everybody that I am indeed not the liar. Dave, you’ve made a whole career out of lying.”
“You insist that you do know what’s going on but you really don’t. We’re going to put up a graphic right here and show you how much it’s actually changed. In this picture you’re going to see, this is an actual 10-year difference from your first-ever champ in Mark Anthony to Brandon Hendrickson and you could see – the shorts have changed dramatically.
Yes, you could hide some leg development or lack thereof 10 years ago, but as you can see in the photo, the shorts they wear today are more spandex, they are tighter hugging to the legs because the athletes like to show off their leg development to go with their upper bodies even though it’s Men’s Physique,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
Citing an official IFBB Pro League document, Cicherillo underlined that the whole body is taken into account when judging bodies in the Men’s Physique category.
“We have found the actual written criteria. This is where you’re going to have a problem my friend. The written criteria, now this is from many many years ago but this still holds true, what it means to assess a Men’s Physique physique. I’ll paraphrase, you can see the part right here where it says, and I’ll quote: ‘Assessment should begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the whole physique into account. Whole Dave. W-H-O-L-E- that would mean in its entirety. The whole physique is taken into account.”
“I know who your top head judge is I actually talked to him today. That’s not actually what he said. Even though what you put out there and this is what you do. You try to stack the deck in your favor to try to make your case. But you get caught every single time because you’re not as smart as you think you are.”
Even though an official score isn’t given for leg development in Men’s Physique, Bob shared that it’s still factored into the end result.
“There’s no specific score that goes to leg development as I just read the criteria. The whole body is assessed, okay? And, I do have an actual quote from the same said person that we could put up right now that actually says there’s a little bit more involved isn’t there? The whole physique should be assessed. We look at the physique as a whole. We look at the silhouette of the physique. If you’ve got thin legs, okay, if your legs don’t match your upper body, it will hurt you.”
“Don’t listen to this idiot [Dave Palumbo]. That’s my advice to all the people out there. He has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about and we just proved your wrong once again. Top judges, you can catch anyone of them, any one, go out and get a consensus Dave, talk to 10 of them, they are all going to tell you the same thing I did. The entire physique is taken into consideration in Men’s Physique.”
This isn’t Bob Cicherillo’s first time dropping knowledge on Palumbo over the new rules. In a Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast last week, Cicherillo stressed that competitors in Men’s Physique still need to train their legs otherwise they will appear imbalanced on stage. In addition, Cicherillo mentioned that he’s seen Physique competitors lose shows due to a lack of leg development.
The bodybuilding community is unsure how the new Men’s Physique height/weight cap will affect the growing class. As with any division, Bob Cicherillo made it clear that the ‘entire physique’ is taken into account during the judging process.
RELATED: Jeremy Buendia Shares Massive 4,600-Calorie Bulking Diet That Helped Him Gain 19 lbs in 2 Weeks
You can watch the full video below from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 20 June, 2023 | 7:49 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Clears Air on Men’s Physique Rules, Says Leg Training is Still Needed for Proportions
Bob Cicherillo is the latest to give his opinion on the new height/weight restrictions announced by the IFBB Pro League for the Men’s Physique division. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo said the new statutes will not result in Men’s Physique competitors ignoring leg training because their physiques would appear imbalanced.
Whether it’s judging a contest or providing guidelines on examining a physique, Cicherillo understands the sport on a deep level. He has served as an announcer at several contests for well over a decade. He is also the commentator for the prestigious Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia competitions.
Earlier this week, new rules for the Men’s Physique category were revealed by IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion. The regulations are expected to go into effect at the first show following the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Due to concerns about muscularity and size, the organization has decided to implement a height and weight cap restriction, however, exact details have yet to be made available.
Given the significance of this recent change, the bodybuilding community is unsure how it will affect the growing division. According to Cicherilo, Dave Palumbo of RxMuscle believes these new measures would discourage Men’s Physique athletes from training legs in order to make the weight cap. Unlike Palumbo, Cicherillo favors the rule change and explains why below.
“I Think This Is a Great Move,” Says Bob Cicherillo on The New Size Restrictions Put on Men’s Physique Division
Cicherillo said bodies in the Men’s Physique category are ‘getting a little bit out of hand.’ He argued they are beginning to resemble the size of Classic Physique competitors.
“The rules change is that there will now be a weight restriction added to the heights. Most people are wondering what that meant. Well, up until this point it’s just been height. Classic has been weight and height. There’s a ratio we use since its inception so for a few years right now. So, the time has come to bring it back because the physiques are getting a little bit out of hand. They’re starting to look a little to close to the Classic Physique guys. We need to keep a separation of church and state when it comes to different physiques in different divisions.”
“I think this is a great move because you got to have some parameters for keeping physiques, where you want them per the division. If they start to look like bodybuilders in board shorts, this is not what we’re looking for. It has to have a certain level that really you can’t get by that’s when the height and the weight restriction comes in. Now, I did see a few other things going on this past week.”
Bob believes the new restrictions have merit. And while it’s true that legs aren’t directly judged in Men’s Physique contests, Cicherillo explained that they are part of an overall package.
“Dave Palumbo on his podcast, gave his two cents, he thought it was a terrible idea. Didn’t particularly care for it, thought it was going to be a mistake. He felt as though, I thought this was a little weird myself, that this would impact the physiques. That the guys just wouldn’t train legs anymore. Go figure the logic on that one. But he explained that they don’t actually judge the legs. It makes no sense whatsoever, but I’m actually going to get to the point on this one and tell you why it’s a very good idea.”
Cicherillo said size restrictions worked great in Classic Physique, which has come to rival the popularity of the Men’s Open. In addition, Cicherillo highlighted that fans online have discussed potential limits on other classes such as Women’s Physique and Women’s Bodybuilding.
“Number one: again, you need a cap on the type of physique that we’re looking for. That said, a height, weight restriction, okay, a ratio, just like in Classic will keep people under a certain look. Just by virtue that they can’t be too big or they’ll be over the weight limit. This worked very successfully in Classic Physique. Arguably our most successful division up until this point, even a rival for the Men’s Open in some shows.”
“That said, I also offer a little bit more than I think we need to take a look at in the pro league in particular, and the pro league will need to take a look at in the next few years or so. While this is a great start, I also think that we’ve had to now take it back a notch on many divisions, not just Men’s Physique, Men’s Physique has gotten a little bit too muscular, Women’s Physique a lot of chatter out there that that’s becoming Women’s Bodybuilding. Women’s Bodybuilding completely out of control and even Men’s Bodybuilding for that matter, a lot of people complaining and wishing it goes back to the 90s.”
Simply put, Bob Cicherillo doesn’t believe Men’s Physique athletes will stop training legs because their physiques will appear imbalanced on stage. He said he’s seen Men’s Physique athletes lose shows because their legs are disproportionate to their upper bodies.
“This is not going to result in people not training legs. Actually, he did say something else I wanted to address, that the legs aren’t being judged. While that may be inherently true, yes they do have board shorts on if you notice, the board shorts have changed significantly from 10 years ago when we had this division added in. They’re not wearing the big giant board shorts anymore as it would be. The shorts are much slimmer, smaller, and hug the legs a little more.”
“I’ve seen Men’s Physique guys lose shows because their legs are too small. How do you ask? Because you can blatantly see it on stage, if you got little pencils sticking out there for calves, your upper body looks huge, you’re not in proportion. You’re not going to get a score for that but you are being judged on the entire physique and the presentation of your physique.”
“I disagree that anybody is going to stop training legs to make the weight,” added Bob Cicherillo.
Cicherillo has also given his opinion on other bodybuilding divisions. In May, some in the sport called for an end to Men’s 212 Bodybuilding. Given the success Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan enjoyed at the last Mr. Olympia, some believe there’s some truth to that argument. However, Cicherillo said ‘only an idiot’ would get rid of the 212 division.
Bob Cicherillo believes the new height/weight restrictions for Men’s Physique will help keep the division true to its roots, while also ensuring that competitors do not neglect their leg training. Only time will tell how the new rules will be received by the bodybuilding community, but Cicherillo is confident they are a step in the right direction.
RELATED: Men’s Physique Competitor Ryan Terry Shares Muscle-Building 1874-Calorie Protein Shake
You can watch the full video below from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel:
Published: 14 June, 2023 | 11:38 AM EDT
Bob Cicherillo Calls Out Salty Fans Over Contest Results: “Leave Your Feelings at the Door!”
Bob Cicherillo is setting his sights on angry fans who disagree with judges and contest results. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo laid out why the judging process is fair and accurate despite fans continually taking issue with scorecards.
Judging in bodybuilding took center stage following last December’s Mr. Olympia competition. The event served as a major shake-up for the Open class as Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay lost his title to Iran’s Hadi Choopan. The former two-time champion dropped down to fifth whereas Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker took second and third.
Immediately after the results, fans and some bodybuilding veterans criticized the judging process. Retired pro Zack Khan was among them. He believes Ramy wasn’t given a fair shot on stage in Las Vegas because the 38-year-old was sidelined for most of prejudging.
Months later, competitors gathered in Ohio for the Arnold Classic. Nick Walker entered the contest on short notice as the overwhelming favorite but lost to Samson Dauda. Once again, fans and the bodybuilding community were upset by the results.
While Chris Aceto and Jay Cutler thought Walker could have won, Cicherillo disagrees. He’s taken to multiple podcasts and interviews to explain the judging process. Even though Walker brought the best conditioning of the show, Cicherillo stressed that Dauda presented the best combination of symmetry, balance, shape, proportions, and stage presentation.
Bob Cicherillo Sounds Off On Fans Angry Over Contest Results: ‘The Judges Decide the 1st Call Out’
Cicherillo said his latest video was inspired by fans who called out the 2023 New York Pro scorecards.
“He [Brent Swanson] didn’t end up doing that well in terms of placings, he ended up in ninth place. But this isn’t about where he placed okay, it’s about a post that I saw which inspired me to want to put out on this edition of the Voice of Bodybuilding. In a nutshell, Brent’s got a couple of fans/clients I guess that do personal training from the description. We’ll get to that in a second. They put out a big long lengthy post about after show about how disappointed they were.”
Again, Cicherillo highlighted that a contest is won by a combination of factors, not just conditioning.
“Number two: he was the most shredded guy on stage, you can see it right there. What does that mean? There’s so many components to a bodybuilding show. We’ve been over this folks, over and over and over. The most shredded guy on stage… listen, that’s fantastic. If we were in the Mr. shredded competition, well he might have won the thing.
But there’s size shape, proportion, symmetry, muscularity, presentation, and conditioning, so if that was all he had then obviously, what, you’re [the fans] are 1 for 6? That’s not really helping your cause. That’s strike two,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
According to Bob, only judges can dictate who earned a spot in the first call-out.
“Earned a first call out, we believe he earned a first call out. No, no, you earn a first call out with your physique. You don’t earn a first call out because of these other accolades or because you believe he worked very hard or any of those things. The judges dictate who earns a first call out, I don’t care who you are.
If you’re a former champ, if you’re a former Olympian, I’d say that consideration only goes so far as to what you’re quote entitled to. You’re entitled to step on that stage, alright, in front of a jury of your peers, we call them judges and get compared to the guys next to you. Now, it’s all about comparisons. I don’t care if you won six Olympias, if you’re not at that level at that point if you blew your conditioning and you just weren’t in shape, you don’t earn anything. You earn it by showing up and being in contention with the other guys.”
Cicherillo highlighted that the point of the judging panel is to score shows in an impartial manner. He added that fans shouldn’t bash events because their friends were unable to win.
“You have to take these things out of consideration. When you’re objectively talking about a physique competition because the underlying [problem] here are that he was given a raw deal and that he deserved a top five call out, ‘He should have been in the first call out.’ Our hearts were broken when he wasn’t in that top-five call out and he deserved to be called out. I couldn’t disagree more.
Listen, your hearts might have been broken for your friends personally, listen, I’ve had family around me for 13 years trying to get a pro card. Trust me, their hearts were broken as much as mine. When I would go to another show, another year and come up short of a pro card. They knew how hard I worked. They knew I put 100% in every prep,” said Cicherillo.
“Check your feelings at the door! Stop bashing shows your friends didn’t win.”
The last time fans heard from Cicherillo, he gave his thoughts on the recent 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing spectacle. Big Ramy fulfilled his obligation this year, but Bob thought his physique looked the same or worse than at Mr. Olympia.
Overall, Cicherillo thinks judging should fairly and objectively compare different body types. He admits the system has flaws, but he urges fans not to criticize the shows.
RELATED: Bob Cicherillo Talks Olympia TV Labeling Athletes ‘Failures;’ Terrick El Guindy Apologizes
You can watch the video from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel below:
Published: 3 June, 2023 | 9:53 AM EDT
Bob Cicherillo: ‘Chris Bumstead Could Push Samson Dauda, Big Ramy/Nick Walker If He Adds 20 Lbs’
Canadian powerhouse Chris Bumstead has steadily become one of the sport’s most popular attractions. In a Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Bob Cicherillo argued that Cbum wouldn’t have found success without the Classic Physique division. In addition, Cicherillo examined Bumstead’s chances in a future Open show.
Thus far, Chris Bumstead has been near-unstoppable throughout his bodybuilding journey. Classic Physique, which was first established in 2016, was designed for athletes who display looks reminiscent of Golden Era talent such as Frank Zane, Robby Robinson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In 2019, Cbum dethroned the two-time Classic Physique Olympia Breon Ansley. Since taking the reigns, Bumstead’s complete physique and charisma have only bolstered the sport’s popularity. However, his career has not been without obstacles. Last year, Bumstead split with his long-time training partner Iain Valliere, who is currently in prep for the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow.
Approximately 12 weeks from last year’s Mr. Olympia, the 28-year-old joined Hany Rambod. Working with several top-tier athletes, Rambod is widely respected for his proprietary training strategies. He currently guides Andrei Deiu, Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and many others. Despite suffering from a torn bicep in the weeks leading up to 2022 Olympia, Bumstead refused to let the setback jeopardize his status as champion.
And while Bumstead has publicly stated he’s on the hunt for a fifth Classic Physique title, Bob Cicherillo is confident the young star could make waves in the Open. In fact, Cicherillo argued that Cbum could potentially hold his own against names like Nick Walker and Samson Dauda with an added 15-20 pounds of muscle.
Read also Every Mr. Olympia Classic Physique Winner Since 2016
Cicherillo highlighted a conversation he had with Bumstead recently about whether or not Chris would have a career without Classic Physique.
“I got to ask the golden question Chris, nobody has ever asked Chris this question. The Classic Physique division was put in not that long ago, brand new, what would you have done in your career or would you have had a career if there was no Classic Physique division?” asks Cicherillo.
Initially, Bumstead tried his luck in the Men’s Open division. He later decided it wasn’t a suitable fit.
“I almost retired. I’m not going to lie, in 2016, I turned pro as an Open bodybuilder at heavyweight, at heavyweight, not superheavyweight. At 6″1′ I was probably one of the smallest guys on stage. I know a lot these judges were here judging me, so thank you for that pro card, I appreciate it. Honestly, I was ready to be done.
I didn’t think I had a future in Open bodybuilding. It wasn’t something for me. It’s probably every single year, every single day when I step on stage, I’m so grateful for the Classic Physique division. I think it’s opened up such a bigger variety of scope of people to watch the sport and come into it. It’s a much more modern age thing,” Bumstead explained.
Bob Cicherillo argued that Bumstead wouldn’t have the success he enjoys today without the Classic Physique division.
“Dan [Solomon] isn’t that something? To think how different the landscape would have been if this division doesn’t exist, Cbum doesn’t exist. At least in the terms we know now, he’s amassed a huge following,” Cicherillo said.
“To take his physique and to get himself in conditioning and retain the amount of size that’s necessary and put it all into a beautiful package that has brought him Olympia titles. So, I mean, I think I have more confidence in Chris’ physique than he did back in the day when he first started. The question is, would he have the success that he has?” Bob Cicherillo asks.
“Chris was quick to point out without this division he probably wouldn’t have done much of anything. Why is that? I don’t think he’d have the confidence that he clearly has now. He had some success but like he said, it took him a while to even get to that level. Then, he was in with the Open bodybuilders, he started as an Open bodybuilder. I don’t think he would have done poorly. Clearly he has the tools or he wouldn’t be where he is today.”
Given rampant talks about Cbum moving to the Open, Bob Cicherillo gave his take on the matter.
“The question remains, could he have done well in the Open? A lot of people think if he just stepped into the Open now, even where his weight is, that he would do well. I don’t know if I’d go that far. Well, yes. He would be a contender and he would be up there. No question he’s a top 10 guy. The question would be can he break the top three? Would he be a contender for the title?”
According to Cicherillo, Bumstead could be a top-three Mr. Olympia threat with an added 15-20 pounds.
“Could he stand next to a Samson Dauda, a Big Ramy, a Nick Walker, any of the current guys occupying those top five top six slots? I believe with 15-20 pounds he probably wouldn’t sacrifice too much conditioning,” added Cicherillo.
This isn’t the first time Bumstead competing in the Open has been brought up. Bumstead tackled the subject himself during a recent The Truth Podcast with Hany Rambod. He made it clear that he would compete at the Arnold Classic in the Open if they made the show two or three weeks after Mr. Olympia.
Fans and Bob Cicherillo included, are looking forward to seeing Bumstead step back on stage. He will put his Classic Physique title on the line in November, where he will aim to become a five-time champion.
You can watch the full video from the Voice of Bodybuilding podcast below:
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Published: 26 May, 2023 | 3:47 PM EDT
Bob Cicherillo on 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Was Big Ramy Better? The Answer Is No.’
Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo is back to discuss the guest posing lineup in Pittsburgh last weekend. In a recent Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo took a closer look at Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s chances of a successful comeback to the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. In addition, he examined some of the sport’s top Open competitors who also guest posed at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro.
Since Phil Heath‘s seven-year reign as Mr. Olympia, Open class athletes have struggled to hold on to the sport’s most coveted title. After the late 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden took the honor, the Sandow changed hands again. In 2019, Brandon Curry claimed gold but would surrender it to Elssbiay in 2020.
As Ramy proceeded to win a pair of titles, confidence about his future grew. Ronnie Coleman, who is tied for most Mr. Olympia wins ever with Lee Haney, assumed Ramy would comfortably defend for years to come. However, he was outmatched on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage and fell to fifth. Ramy later vowed to come back better than ever. His coach, Chad Nicholls, shared his grim take on Ramy’s prep last year, and said just about ‘everything went wrong.’
Elssbiay entered the 2023 Arnold Classic and took fourth place. Cicherillo, who also serves as the announcer for the Arnold and Mr. Olympia shows, suggested that Ramy’s best days were behind him.
Unlike last year, Ramy appeared in Pittsburgh for a star-studded guest posing appearance. He was joined by last year’s Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida. In his latest endeavor, Cicherillo gave his thoughts on the lineup and opened up on Big Ramy’s potential for redemption.
Bob Cicherillo Breaks Down 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing: ‘Derek Lunsford & Nick Walker Did Not Disappoint’
Overall, Bob Cicherillo was impressed with the lineup. He thought Derek Lunsford set a precedent last year in Pittsburgh, which nudged other competitors to stay conditioned in the off-season this time around.
“These guys were in pretty good shape, I got to give it to everybody. I got to credit that to Derek Lunsford because he did show up in shape last year and he showed up in shape this year too. Still the best-conditioned guy at this point, we’re six months out… but I think it inspired the other guys to be a little bit closer to in-shape if you will again, for the off-season, nobody is expecting somebody to be ripped to the bone of course. If you’re ripped to the bone six months out, you got bigger problems. Everybody was in pretty good shape. It’s funny, you could almost put them in order from their guest posing appearance.”
“Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker did not disappoint, again, in great condition, great shape for being off-season, he’s [Nick] put on a lot of, we’ll call it off-season weight. Not fat, none of these guys were. Samson Dauda did not disappoint either. He’s over 300 pounds or reported close to 300 pounds now, he’s a little bit taller than Big Ramy who did show up everybody.”
As for Big Ramy, Cicherillo thought he looked wide but failed to show any improvements since his last two contests.
“That’s right, Big Ramy made it in. So, all of the conspiracy theorists have to find something else to point your finger to. Big Ramy was there and he was big, now the question is… was he better? The answer is… no. I thought he looked good, I thought some of the same problems are still evident. Whether that gets fixed throughout the year, whether he decides to compete, we’re only going to see, time will tell.
The arms do look a little bit down in size, the back I didn’t think looked much different. He’s big as a house folks, there’s a reason they call him Big Ramy. He is the widest guy in bodybuilding bar none. For any height, I don’t care, Andrew Jacked’s taller, he’s a big boy too, but nobody’s got Big Ramy width. I don’t know if that helps him at this point. I don’t know if it’s the shoulders that are so big that make his arms look smaller if there’s some issues going on with that, but he was in good shape,” Bob Cicherillo explained.
In addition to those mentioned, Cicherillo praised Hunter Labrada, who is currently in prep to compete at the upcoming Tampa Pro and Texas Pro.
“He didn’t disappoint. The fans love him and he’s as gracious as it gets. So Hunter Labrada was there. Hat and all, you know it’s a show when Hunter is there and the cap is on that head of his. Hunter is a good sport. I give him a lot of credit for that. Hunter looked good. Hunter is in shape and Hunter needs to qualify.”
In addition to Bob’s critiques of the Open class, Olympia TV came under fire recently after judge Terrick El Guindy labeled a few athletes as ‘busts’ and ‘failures’ in a social media post. In response to fan backlash, Cicherillo chimed in and said it wasn’t done intentionally, but stressed that the ‘clickbait stuff needs to end.’
Elssbiay reassured his fans of his future in a Muscle and Fitness interview recently, where he appeared fired up to win back his title at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest on Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Time will tell if Big Ramy can reclaim the throne and become a three-time champion.
RELATED: Bob Cicherillo Wants William Bonac to Retire on Olympia Stage & Explains Samson Dauda’s Rise to the Top
Watch the full video below from Bob Cicherillo’s YouTube channel:
Published: 19 May, 2023 | 3:58 PM EDT
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