Resident Competition Analyst Marijan Lipsinic
The inaugural 2008 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Pro Show in Tampa, FL, was a very successful one. Promoter Tim Gardner did a great job organizing the show paying attention to every little detail. Judging was very good. Hopefully in the future we'll have more bodybuilding shows like this one in Tampa.
Let's discuss the athletes.
Women's bodybuilding:
1. Nicole Ball
2. Klaudia Larson
3. Debbie Bramwell
4. Kim Perez
5. Wendy Mccready
6. Annie Rivieccio
7. Claudia Partenza
8. Beverly DiRenzo
9. Giusy Caputo
10. Carla Salotti
11. Tonia Moore
12. Mary Jerumbo
13. Mercedes Bazemore
14. Nicole Pfuetzenreuter
15. Irene Anderson
16. Jana Linke-Sippl
16. Aurelia Grozajova
16. Myriam Bustamante
Canadian Pro Nicole Ball, deserved the victory. Perfect combination of symmetry, muscle size, conditioning with feminine look, set Nicole apart from the other competitors. She looked great. Funny thing is, the week before the show, she went camping, taking dumbbells and bike with her to train and keep preparing for the show. We'll be looking forward to seeing Nicole at the Olympia in Las Vegas. Second place Klaudia Larson displayed very balanced, hard physique, with small waist. Her leg separation was incredible. If she adds a few more pounds of muscle, she'll be winning shows in the future. Third placed Debbie Bramwell, looked the best I ever seen her. I would have had her in a second place. Great arms and delts, very well conditioned with her trademark smile, won her qualification for the Olympia. Kim Perez was fourth. Unbelievable arms and delts, detailed back, but her lower body needed more conditioning. She also needs to bring her legs up to match her incredible upper body. Great competitor with a great smile. Wendy Mc Creedy, in a fifth place, looked good from every angle, although she needed more conditioning from the back to place higher.
I still think women's bodybuilding should be divided into two classes. For example it was hard to compare Carla Salotti with bigger and taller competitors like Tonia Moore (formerly Villalobos), Jana Linke - Sippl, Irene Anderson, Nicole Pfuetzenreuter, and Aurelia Grozajeva etc..
MEN'S BODYBUILDING
202 and Under
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1. David Henry
2. James Flex-Lewis
3. Jaroslav Horvath
4. Tricky Jackson
5. Roc Shabazz
6. Steve Namat
7. Michael Valentino
8. Khalid Almohsinawi
9. Guy Ducasse
10. Daron Lytle
11. Jeffrey Long
12. Nathaniel Wonsley
13. Pablo Arevalo
14. Raul Carrasco
15. Vonne Francis
16. Jorge Jose Alves
16. Carlos Rabiei
16. Vincent Liu
16. Ken Jones
16.Clifton Torres
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David Henry won under 202 class with combination of thickness and conditioning and when he is on, he is very dangerous competitor in any class at any event. He brought it to the table in Tampa this Saturday. Welshman, James-Flex Lewis was a pleasant surprise of the evening. Great conditioning, nice lines, and incredible lower body. Rookie pro looked like seasoned pro. When he adds more width to his back and more thickness to his upper body, he'll have to be taken seriously in every show. He is very young and there is a bright future ahead of him. Jaroslav Horvath of Slovakia was third. Great symmetry, nice classic lines. Jaroslav presented himself very well. He just needed more hardness from the back, especially glutes and hamstrings to fight for a top spot. I was pleasantly surprised with Tricky Jackson and Roc Shabazz. It was very close. Both of them could have placed higher. Another competitor in this class, Hungarian Steve Namat (original name Istvan Nemeth) left very good impression in Tampa. Steve Namat and Flex Lewis are both only 24 years old and are doing well on a pro level already. Congratulations to both of them!
Mens Bodybuilding
1. Toney Freeman
2. Dennis James
3. David Henry
4. Darrem Charles
5. Fouad Abiad
6. Tarek Elsetouhi
7. James Flex-Lewis
8. Jaroslav Horvath
9. Marcos Chacon
10. Quincy Taylor
11. Frederic Sauvage
12. Paul Baker
13. Mark Dugdale
14. Roc Shabazz
15. Bob Weatherill
16. Vincent Liu
16. Raul Carrasco
16. Ken Jones
16. Roland Huff
16. Nathaniel Wonsley
16. Pablo Arevalo
16. Tricky Jackson
16. Yildirim Mehmet
16. Jorge Jose Alves
16. Steve Namat
16. Carlos Rabiei
16. Omar Borrelli
16. Bola Ojex
16. Carlos Majid-Rabiei
16. Clarence Devis
16. Clifton Torres
16. Daron Lytle
16. Elvis Brown
16. Evgeny Mishin
16. Fedel Clark
16. Gian Enrico Pica
16. Guy Ducasse
16. James Hampton
16. Jeffrey Long
16. Jerry Nicholls
16. Khalid Almohsinawi
16. Lyndon Belgrave
16. Marcus Becht
16. Anthony Finocchiaro
Toney Freeman is back. His victory in Tampa was very clear. He brought his famous X frame with classic lines and very good conditioning on the stage and nobody could match it. Last year he had a few bad showings, but it was just a matter of conditioning to get him back where he belongs. Dennis James in second, looked very good, too. With plenty of size to display, improved condition, smaller waist, Dennis was very impressive especially from the sides. He needs to improve his back and those funky abs aren't helping either. But that's genetics and we have to live with what was given to us. I'm glad Dennis qualified for this year's Olympia. He can do well in Vegas. "Giant Killer" Dave Henry took 3rd. He amazes me with his combination of size and conditioning. Henry and Lee Priest are best short bodybuilders in the world right now. Dave also earned Mr.Olympia qualification. Darrem Charles came up short again. He looked better than in Houston 3 weeks ago. He needed more size last night, comparing to the top 3 guys, especially in his hamstrings and calves. He also didn't have that crispness we are accustom to see when Darrem competes. Eight time pro show champion, Darrem Charles is a great bodybuilder no matter what.
Canadian muscle freak Fouad Abiad, came in fifth. Looked like he was holding some water in his back. Needs more separation in his quads. He presented very impressive physique and earned his first top 5 pro finish.
Several other competitors need to be mentioned here; Tarek Elsetouhi, 6th, Flex Lewis, 7th, Jaroslav Horvath, 8th and Marcos Chacon, 9th.
Disappointing showings for Quincy Taylor 10th, and Mark Dugdale 13th. I was also expecting better placing for Paul Baker of Jamaica.
All in all, it was an excellent show with a lot of great bodybuilders. Next show is Europa Supershow in Dallas, TX on August 15-16. See you there! |
