212 Champ Flex Lewis - Who Can Dethrone Him?
212 Champ Flex Lewis - Who Can Dethrone Him?
Make your choice of who represent the biggest challenge to Flex Lewis taking his fifth 212 title. Let us know your reasons and if you see anyone else being in contention.
Guy Cisternino
Eduardo Correa
David Henry
Jose Raymond
Hidetada Yamagishi
This coming weekend Flex Lewis will attempt to win his fifth consecutive 212 Olympia Showdown title. If anything the Welshman has been more dominant than five-time open Olympia champ Phil Heath. Lewis brings a complete look to the stage with his thickness, proportions and condition and so again he enters the dispute for the 212 title as heavy (or maybe more succinctly lightweight) favorite. But no one is unbeatable and if he's off others will be positioned to take advantage. Without being disrespectful to the whole line up here is a selection of guys who could that could pounce on any shortfall by the Welsh Dragon.
Guy Cisternino: Fourth last year the New Jerseyite brings a package of classy muscle to the dance, with his legs being his signature bodypart. If he can nail condition 100% he’ll be quite a handful.
Eduardo Correa: When he’s on the Brazilian is beyond shredded and he was runner up two years ago. The knocks against him are that his structure is not ideal and he still has the remnants of a triceps injury. But in an age were condition seems paramount he cannot be discounted.
David Henry: In many ways this military man is the Phil Heath of the 212 division with great proportions, full muscle bellies and all sorts of crazy detail – particularly in the back – flying around. The winner of the first ever lighter weight Olympia division in 2008 (when the weight limit was 202pounds) he has in recent years looked a little light in the quads. If he corrects that it will really ramp up his competitiveness.
Jose Raymond: The Boston battler was runner-up last year to Lewis and then in March finished second to Hidetada Yamagishi at the Arnold Classic where he just a tad down from his 2015 form. Raymond brings a power physique to the stage stacked with sinew-splitting muscle and eye-catching vascularity. After his early season loss he will be super dangerous as he is driven to come in at his best ever.
Hidetada Yamagishi: After beating Raymond at this year’s Arnold many installed Hide as number one contender for Lewis’s crown. After an unsteady start in transitioning to the 212 class Japan’s best put it all together at the Arnold -- under the tutelage of 10-time Ms. O Iris Kyle -- with a combination of balance and honed condition. His general presentation is always first class and works to his advantage.