A year ago, he was a determined amateur, vaguely recognizable as that young guy from Florida who appeared in Gaspari Nutrition ads. But in just a short time, Mark Alvisi has become a ‘name’ in our sport; in fact we truly believe he is “Marked for Victory!” His story begins on page 158, as Alvisi prepares for the USA. To hear Hany Rambod speak of his client, Mark is one of the hardest-working people in this industry, meticulous with his nutrition and supplementation. The ‘Pro Creator’ is confident that Mark will have a more seasoned, mature look to his muscles at the USA, and that his overall look will be denser and fuller than what he showed at the Nationals.
 After a year away from the stage, Branden Ray is ready to kick some ass! “B-Ray’s Road to the USA” begins on page 170. The USA is just around the corner, and Branden can’t wait. After taking second place last year, I suggested to B-Ray that he skip the Nationals and work with Hany Rambod to prepare for this year’s USA. Hany tore apart his physique, looking at it from all angles; got him to perfect his form when activating his back muscles, got him to eat more real food. This light-heavy will be damn hard to beat; he’s looking leaner every day, his shape is off the chain, and he’s brought up his size and condition like never before!

Branch Warren unlocks the secrets to his huge guns in “Branch Warren: Road to the Olympia,” starting on page 212. Not many bodybuilders can honestly say they were able to turn a weak body part into a showpiece. His legs are already considered the best in the world, and Branch was formerly criticized as being bottom-heavy; now the armor-plated slabs he calls his chest is the result of twice-weekly pectoral torture, and Branch gives the same treatment to his arms, blasting them with heavy weights, supersets and drop sets. At 5'7", Branch’s arms now measure 21 inches cold. But the journey that brought him these massive guns was not always easy. Late last summer, he tore his triceps grabbing the stair rail at home. Branch is not the type to complain or make excuses; after painful surgery and rehab, he jumped right back on the horse, determined to rebound, better than ever. Branch began the slow process of building up to his previous weight on triceps exercises, and now his arm training is more productive than ever. As Branch squeezes his bi’s and tri’s with all his might for killer contractions, these major guns promise to look sick in September!

Prior to turning pro at the 2002 USA, Troy Alves had decided to stop competing if he didn’t win this one. “It was my 10th attempt in eight years at a pro card, and if I didn’t start making money at the sport, I would need to move on,” explains Alves. It was a do-or-die run— and his win compelled Alves to stay in the game. But Troy could not give 100 percent to his bodybuilding career, due to the loss of his dad, the end of his marriage, and the stress of operating Pro Nutrition. He placed a dismal 11th at the Pro Iron Man in January; Troy was in a slump, and for the second time, he almost said goodbye to competition.

Then on April 18th, Alves won the IFBB Europa Show of Champions in Orlando— and he’s back now, stronger than ever! He’s training with Charles Glass, and working with Chris Aceto on his nutrition. Troy Alves is on the road to the Olympia, and his story begins on page 184. Dubbed ‘The Modern-Day Frank Zane,’ Alves gives us the training routine that will bring him to the stage in Vegas this September.

Big Bad Dennis Wolf blasts wheels on his road to the Olympia, starting on page 198. “If I were ever happy with my physique, I would not be a bodybuilder,” says Dennis. “I’m still looking to get more mass in my quads; I want to get my hams rounder, with real deep details; and my calves need to improve, I will always be trying to bring them up.” Wolf gives us a detailed look at what he does to build those meaty, billowing quads and hanging, carved hams, as he prepares for the toughest show of his bodybuilding career.
 

As a teenager, he did push-ups and chin-ups, and then bought a set of weights, which he shared with two other friends; Victor Martinez ended up being the kid with the biggest chest in high school. At 17, he joined Elmo’s Gym, owned by former Mr. Universe Elmo Santiago, and began a more complete chest routine. Today, it’s tough to find a chest in pro bodybuilding to rival the one built by Martinez. Victor shares his old-school training for pectoral perfection in “Victor Martinez: Road to the Mr. Olympia,” beginning on page 224. The ‘Dominican Dominator’ is pounding his pecs with healthy doses of iron— and knocking on the door of the Mr. Olympia title.
 This month, Shawn Ray debuts his “Industry Insider Buzz,” on page 42, giving you the complete scoop on what’s happening behind the scene of our industry… opinions, controversy— and who better to write this column than Shawn Ray himself? It should be interesting!

The rest of the book is jammed to the binder as usual with tons of the latest research, views and information from our industry’s brightest stars and most knowledgeable resources. That’s why MD is the biggest, baddest hardcore bodybuilding magazine on the planet. See you next month!