For over 20 years, The X-Man Toney Freeman and The Blade Dexter Jackson, have lived up to their comic book super hero personas. They continue to get up on stage time and time again making bodybuilding fans around the world shake their heads in amazement. The 46-year-old Freeman has showed that age aint nothing but a number, having competed in an unprecedented 17 shows in the past two years. And at 43, Dexter is just as impressive. The entire bodybuilding industry had all but written off the 2008 Mr. Olympia and 3x Arnold Classic Champion early last year; however, The Blade would have nothing of it, emphatically putting a halt to the ‘past his prime’ talk, coming in 4th place at the 2012 Mr. Olympia and further showing he’s still got gas in the tank with a 1st place trophy at the 2012 Mr. Olympia Masters competition this past December. The 25th Annual Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic is now less than one week away. The hype train seems to be all aboard Cedric McMillan, but when the dust settles in Columbus, don’t be surprised if The X-Man or The Blade is left holding up the 1st Place Trophy.
What makes these two modern marvels different from all of the other bodybuilders who are inching closer and closer towards their AARP memberships? Well for starters, these future Hall of Famers have incurred no serious injuries throughout their careers. Toney did suffer a torn right pec muscle 18 years ago, but the tendon has been repaired and given that he has won 7 shows since 2006 only validates that the judges don’t see any glaring weakness coming from his physique. Dexter, on the other hand, has been the steadiest competitor in bodybuilding for the past 12 years. He has been so consistent that he has not placed out of the top 6 in competition since an 8th place finish at the 2001 Mr. Olympia. The Blade seems to have found the perfect balance of intense training and knowing what his limitations are to keep him injury free throughout his career.
These two guys have also defied the law of bodybuilding evolution with the lack of disappearing legs. The number one thing we see in bodybuilders past the age of 40 is vanishing quads and hams. ‘Old-Man’ legs are not just an epidemic in bodybuilding, but also at gyms across the country. And who can blame anyone? Training legs is a real bitch no matter if you’re 20 years old or 50 years old. Have Toney and Dexter somehow figured out a way to cure arthritic knees, hips, and ankles? Is Toney Freeman’s X-Pain Spray the jungle juice implored by world renowned healers like John of God? Or maybe it’s Dexter hiring trainer Charles Glass to align his body in the hack squat to make even a contortionist say, “WTF?” You can bet 42-year-old Johnnie Jackson has been trying to figure out this leg issue for years. I don’t see Toney or Dexter sharing any trade secrets with him anytime soon.
So how do our modern marvels take a real stab at the Arnold Classic title this week? Conditioning. Dexter’s physique continually comes in perfectly balanced from top to bottom show after show. The only trouble Dexter has had in his career is matching his own perfection. The judges know what he is capable of and anything less than his all-time best effects his placing. For him to knock off the mountain of muscle that is Cedric McMillian and Toney Freeman he will need to come in with his 2008 Olympia or 2012 Master’s Olympia conditioning. His hamstrings, glutes, and lower back cannot be holding even a drop of water. At only 215lb, he won’t be able to over deplete and come in looking flat and small; otherwise, the bigger guys will blow him off the stage. The Blade’s number 1 issue the past few years is dieting during the winter. For a guy who only requires 8 weeks to get into condition he will have needed to plow right through Christmas and New Years without any deviation from his nutrition. If he has done this, a record tying 4th Arnold Classic is his.
And for Toney, IF he can bring in his 2008 5th place Olympia package he can challenge for the title. That’s a tall order for the 6’2’’ 280lb X-Man who hasn’t placed that high at the Olympia since ‘08. Just ask Toney what he needs to win and he will tell you, “I need the call-outs, bro!” He’s been clamoring for years to stand next to the best guys. Well this year he is going to get his wish. He’ll be compared next to Cedric, Dexter, Ben Pakulski, and Johnnie Jackson. He won’t have the excuse of not having a fair shot at the title. Toney, you want an Arnold win to your resume? Go out and take it. Don’t leave your best performance for the post-show interview.
So where do I see my Modern Marvels at the 25th Anniversary show? I have little doubt in my mind that Dexter Jackson and Toney Freeman come in at their all-time best at the competition. In fact, I think everyone at the show will be in superb condition knowing that the title has been vacated with the absence of defending champ Branch Warren and several tier 1 competitors skipping the show.
The X-Man and The Blade will be Top 3 finishers in Columbus, but will fall just shy of taking down the IFBB’s next big thing, Cedric McMillan. This will be the show that pole vaults Cedric to the forefront of bodybuilding. Thus, leaving his post in the military for a full-time position amongst the world’s best bodybuilders. Somebody has to stand guard and challenge Phil Heath for the title of World’s #1 bodybuilder, and I believe that man to be Big Cedric.
Rounding out the top 5, I have Canadians Ben Pakulski and Fouad Abiad. I believe they will be in tremendous shape and break through towards HUGE 2013 seasons.
And with that I look forward to seeing everyone at the show and for those who can’t make it out don’t forget to follow all the pre-show action and post-show wrap ups only on RxMuscle.com.
As always you can follow me on Twitter @MattMeinrod or read my archived articles at www.MattMeinrod.com
