On Episode 307 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis James was joined by Milos Sarcev and Jose Raymond, and the panel compared the current era of competitive bodybuilders with those of the 90s. How would they stack up?
The 90’s was a decade where size dominated the stage. Often referred to as the “Mass Monster” era, stars like Dorian Yates, Lee Haney, and Ronnie Coleman reigned supreme. But how do current muscle men stack up against these icons of the past? Jose Raymond speculated that there may be a drop in quality in the 2020s, because IFBB Pro Cards are too easily won these days. “If you have to fight for a pro card, for seven to ten years, by the time you get it you’ll be ready,” said the bodybuilder-turned-coach. “And the physique is going to be already matured and marinated.”
Raymond felt that younger bodybuilder’s winning pro cards effects the overall talent pool. “The physique isn’t ready,” he said. “Most of today’s guys would not win a pro card in 1993, 1989.”
Dennis James Says 90% of Today’s Bodybuilders Would Not Win a Pro Card in the 1990s
Agreeing with Raymond’s take, host Dennis James said that “90% of them, maybe even more than 90%,” would not win a pro card if competing in the ’90s. “You’ve got guys getting a pro card for second place,” added Raymond. “That’s crazy to me.”
To further cement this observation, Milos Sarcev explained that respected and revered bodybuilders of the past like Edgar Fletcher and Matt Mendenhall never even turned pro. “Edgar Fletcher would win pro shows today,” said Raymond. “One hundred percent,” agreed Sarcev.
The Menace further explained that there have been more than 70 athletes qualifying for Olympia categories, from a pool of around 500, although this is being tightened up in many divisions with the requirement to win two shows. So, perhaps restoring quality over quantity is the key to creating the best era.
To see this conversation in full on The Menace Podcast, where the panel also discussed the latest bodybuilding news and results, check it out on the Muscle & Fitness YouTube channel.
