i dont know, and im not a judge, but couldnt this guy be a top pro with conditioning?
Yeah but the problem is that you have to win at a big show to turn pro...
Whats simply crazy about this guy is his potential... I remember back in high school we had a weight training class together.. It was a class instead of P.E . We also met up at the gym after school to workout each day..
It was punishment but a good foundation for me.
Believe it or not I was keeping up. .. I could bench and press as much as him back then. He weighed 180lbs and i was 150lbs.. We both benched 300lbs in high school..when i was 19 i finally hit 3 plates ... which was a big goal accomplished at the time.
Rich blew up and put on a ton of size.. ... In that pic that rich posted on Mayhem a while back, he was near 300lbs... and like i said.. back in high school he was training and competed at 180lbs.
Thats over 100lbs of lean weight he put on..
He competed off and on...... but during his laps of non competition he was always getting bigger... He won the Cal in98... upsetting Quincy Taylor who took 2nd.. Earlier in the year he won the orange county..
In 2003 he won the super heavy class at the LA ...did the USA and placed 11th then made a run at the nationals and didnt place...
The next year he did the nationals and placed 6th... The border states was his first time competing in 5 years and i could see the rust...but is main reason for doing the show was the qualification...
I agree that he surely would have a shot at the masters nats next year..... But Rich wants to compete against the best.. its not about turning pro or not.. He wants to compete against the best amateurs out there.
I am positive he wont ever do the masters nationals..
About his comback: The guy is so big walking around that... the question..." When is your next competition?" must be asked 2-3 times a day..
I know im about half his size.. but im relentless. I have not had a break from competing in 8 years and Rich has been to many of my shows..
He is actually really good luck for me...I think i have won my class 4 times when he was there to support me.. including the USA and LA twice.
I know i re kindled the fire for him to get back on stage.. Anyways, thanks for your time in reading and posting here...