The 2009 IFBB PBW Tamp Pro Under-202 class was perhaps the best 202 class I've seen this season. It was dominated right from the get-go by a confident David Henry (FULL CONTEST PHOTO 
GALLERY). He looked so ungodly, massive, and in such great condition that he could have had his trophy sent to him in the mail and not even bothered showing up. He looked like someone had taken a 2004 caliber Ronnie Coleman and hit him over the head with a big mallet to knock a half a foot of height out of him (while giving him better abs in the process). Henry looked thick, dense, and incredibly detailed well beyond the paltry weight limit. Standing alone he looked like he weighed 240, not 202. Have I gotten my point across yet? Seeing David Henry tonight was a treat any bodybuilding fan will take home and remember for years to come. Yes, he as that good; and I mean that in the most un-schmoey way imaginable.
Second and third places rounded out the Olympia qualification slots by two guys from the UK. They really surprised all of us who routinely discount the foreign contingent. Second place finisher John Hodgson exhibited that kind of thin skin grainy hardness that fellow countryman Dorian Yates first showed us back in the day. John was easily the most peeled of the bunch, but didn't have the size and shape to bother Henry in the slightest. However, he was pretty far ahead of third place Brit Lee Powell. Powell was the bigger of the two, but his condition was a bit lacking. Still, his shape and symmetry were good enough to lock up the third place slot and the last Olympia 202 qualifying slot.
Honorable mention has to go to fifth place finisher and cousin to Mr. O, Tricky Jackson, who took home the 202 best poser award. This was a well deserved honor indeed. Posing seems to run in the family. The rest of the 10 man field was filled with able competitors, not one of whom you could say didn't belong up there. All in all, this 202 class was as exciting as it was stocked with quality competitors. So much so that I'm starting to like the 202 more than the open class.
MEN'S OPEN CLASS:
The 2009 IFBB PBW Tampa Pro men's open class was handily won (finally) by bodybuilding veteran pro 
Dennis James. It was about time DJ got his pro win and I'd have t say this time he truly deserved it. DJ is the guy we always see in pictures taken two weeks before the show at the gym in a tank top and the guy looks insane - sure to win. Then he shows up on contest day and you wonder what the hell happened? Where's the guy in the tank top? Well, tonight, the guy in the tank top showed up looking like he did in the picture. DJ was in great condition, full, hard, and dry. He looked every inch a seasoned pro and looked just like the guy who should have won, and he did. Dennis hasn't won a pro show since the 2001 Grand Prix in Hungary. It was good to see him win one here at home and in a decisive manner.
Second place went to Fouad Abiad from Canada. Fouad is one of those guys who is just really massive, in great condition, but lacks the kind of wow factor that a Dennis James has when he's in shape. With Dennis looking the way he did, there was little Fouad could have done to unseat him. As good as Fouad was tonight, second was all he was going to get. Another Canadian, Ben "Pac Man" Pakulski took home the third place slot and the last of the three Olympia qualification berths. This guy is a real site to see. He has Ivan Drago white hair, crazy shredded huge legs and the biggest freakiest calves anyone has seen since Mike Materazzo. Unfortunately, Ben was missing a good chunk of his middle back and lats which really threw off his proportions. The good news is that this kid does have "the look" which translates into "wow factor" and he's certainly young enough to do something about the lacking body parts. In time this kid could be a real force to reckon with. We'll certainly be keeping an eye on him as time goes on. Fourth place went to a much improved Billy Wilmore. Bill really nailed his condition this time out and brought a much bigger, fuller, and dense package to the stage. I was really impressed with his improvements, but as much as I am, Billy is not done. If he's going to rock the world he's going to have to add some inner thigh to balance out his incredible thick back, heaving pecs, delts, and arms. Bill Wilmore definitely has a bright future in the IFBB. Rounding out the top five is "Show Stopp'a - Jaw Dropp'a" Ben White. The rivalry going into this show between Ben and Johnny Jackson escalated rapidly as the show approached. At the press conference on Friday the two talked smack about their upcoming lift off at the Olympia to determine once and for all who is the strongest bodybuilder? (SEE VIDEO OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE). It turned out that Johnny's eighth place finish was far enough away from Ben to put him away until it's time to get the lifting done. Cracking the top five was not only redemption of sorts for Ben, but it also proved he can walk at least some of the talk. Knowing Ben, this is just the kind of motivation he needs going into the Olympia that will make the lift off really something to see. None of us can wait!
Picking up the best poser award was Marcus Haley. This was a particularly poignant victory for him due to the fact that he had dedicated this show to his mom who is suffering from kidney failure and on dialysis. Marcus was contacted by the hospital with dire news of his mother's failing condition and was faced, just hours before the show, with having to decide if he should pull the plug. He said "no way" and did the show only to find his mother's condition improved! I don't think taking first place could have spelled any greater victory for Marcus.
The rest of the field was as deep as it was impressive and no one was walking in the park. All together this 2009 IFBB PBW Tampa Pro was a tough, well executed show that was held in a beautiful, modern venue and run with the alacrity of a Swiss watch. Big props to all the competitors and the promoters, Tim and Brandy Gardner, for putting together an exciting and well run show.
