Leading up to the 2008 Mr. Olympia on September 26-27 at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, we’ll break down some of the most intriguing potential matchups and subplots to the contest.
The third in our Olympia Dream Matchup Series: Toney Freeman versus Dennis Wolf.
TALE OF THE TAPE NAME: Toney Freeman NICKNAME: The X-Man HEIGHT: 6’2″ WEIGHT: 275 pounds OLYMPIA HISTORY: 2006 , 7th; 2007, 14th
NAME: Dennis Wolf NICKNAME: With his last name, doesn’t need one HEIGHT: 5’11” WEIGHT: 265 pounds OLYMPIA HISTORY: 2006, DNP, 2007, 5th
WHY WE WANT TO SEE IT: Two of the tallest competitors in the Olympia lineup and, as such, two of the biggest. We’ve heard a lot of talk about Wolf as a serious threat to crack the top four – and beyond – but before that he’ll have to get past a rejuvenated Freeman who, when he’s on, could give the German import all he can handle.
WHAT WE WILL SEE: Hopefully the judges will put the big men side-by-side in a lineup, giving fans the chance to compare these symmetrical behemoths against one another. Freeman’s height advantage will be counterbalanced by Wolf’s uberwide shoulder structure.
SEE FOR YOURSELF: Nobody in the history of our sport, Markus Ruhl and Ronnie Coleman included, has ever had a more impressive most muscular pose than Wolf, which gives him a large advantage over Freeman. However, Wolf’s lats are on the high side – which illustrates one of Wolf’s weak points, lower back thickness – while Freeman’s back is complete from bottom to top. It’s going to be a dogfight, folks. In the side shots, Wolf will hold the edge in upper-body thickness, chest and shoulders in particular, while Freeman’s hamstrings may overpower Wolf’s lower half.
OUR TAKE: If Freeman can regain the form he displayed at the 2007 Ironman, where the above and below pictures are from, this matchup could take on an entirely different tone. But Freeman hasn’t been as good since. In the end Wolf’s incredible width, most muscular and overall hardness should help him to outpoint Toney which equals, in such a talented lineup, a placing or two as well.
