Jose Raymond defeats David Henry in Europa 202 Battle

Report by Ron Harris

202 Division: A New Englander triumphs in Connecticut

Last night's judging had a lot of people arguing about whether Jose Raymond would be able to pull off back to back wins in Tampa and here in Hartford, considering he was up against one of the most feared men in the 202 division, former 202 Mr. Olympia David Henry. This was really supposed to be a warm-up for Dave on the way to the big show in Las Vegas. He had taken nearly a year off to make improvements, and that he did. Dave's upper body was freaky thick and full, and without Kevin English or Eduardo Correa here in Hartford, the win should have been a foregone conclusion.

Jose's legs totally overpowered Dave's

But Dave didn't expect to run up against The Boston Mass, Jose Raymond. Though Jose does suffer in comparison to Dave when it comes to the chest and back, Jose's legs totally overpowered Dave's, his condition was superior, and his presentation was much more polished and professional. Considering how much longer Henry has been a pro and how many shows he's done, it's odd that he still seems a bit awkward on stage. To be fair, it was a close call and I bet the score sheets will show that the two were separated by a scant few points.

So now the question is, will Dave sharpen up in the next nine weeks and be the one pushing Kevin English for the world title, or has Jose moved past him? The wonderful thing about the 202 division is that any of the top men on any given day can win if he shows up 100% on the money. It should be an exciting show in Las Vegas in September, and now Jose has definitely established himself as a legitimate threat for the 202 Mr. Olympia title.

202
1. Jose Raymond
2. David Henry
3. Luc Molines