IFBB Professional League Chairman Jim Manion breaks down the top three from the NY Pro 212 Men’s Bodybuilding division.
(Related: New York Pro Final Report)
3 – JOSE RAYMOND
“Jose was just a little bloated here, a little too full. He was vascular and big but there wasn’t a lot of separation there. He was definitely not at his best and I’m sure he knew that. He’s a crowd pleaser, everybody loves him, but I think he knew he wasn’t at his best. He just competed last week, so that probably didn’t help him either. I think you’ll see a better Jose at the Olympia.”
(See all of Jose Raymond’s photos here)
2 – SAMI ALHADDAD
“This was the first time I’ve ever seen Sami in person and I was quite impressed. He’s very symmetrical. He looks much bigger on stage than he does backstage. He came very close to winning. If he had won I don’t think anybody would have complained. In the daytime he was very close to Kevin. At nighttime Kevin got little fuller while Sami didn’t change a whole lot. I don’t know if he was as good at night as he was during the day. He could be a little tighter from the back in the hamstrings and a little fuller in the chest. That’s kind of where Kevin got him, in the side chest and the back area. Another guy with a good future who really impressed me.”
(See all of Sami Alhaddad’s photos here)
1 – KEVIN ENGLISH
“Kevin won the show, but this was definitely not Kevin’s best. In the daytime I felt he looked a little small and flat. At night got much better, much fuller. The weight class went up to 212, but he looked smaller now than he did when the limit was 202. Someone told me he weighed in at around 200 pounds – that’s what I don’t understand. At 202 he always looked like he was 225 pounds on stage – this time he definitely looked like he weighed 202. He wasn’t hitting his poses as well as he should have, but he came back better at night and that’s what saved him. Last two shows he’s been in – the 202 Showdown and now this – he hasn’t been 100 percent that’s for sure. I hope he gets his act together for Olympia because he’s got Flex Lewis in there and Jose and Sami.”
(See all of Kevin English’s photos here)
OVERALL
“This was the deepest 212 show we’ve had since the weight limit changed – and it may even be the best show among all of the 212 or 202 contests we’ve had outside of the 202 Showdowns. When you go down and look at Marco Rivera in 4th and Guy Cisternino in 5th, those are guys who can go on to win other shows. Two out of the top three were not at their best in Kevin and Jose. Sami looks like he has room to get better and better. Everybody better be ready because this guy is good.”
