Page 172 - Muscle & Fitness (February 2020)
P. 172
FLEX_RETRO B Y D AV I D B AY E
The Best 212
There Never Was?
Before the inception of the 202 and 212 divisions, Shawn Ray stood next to giants.
Here’s why he believes he would’ve dominated the smaller class.
JORDAN VS. LEBRON. Ray holds a record 12 consec-
Ali vs. Tyson. Throughout utive top-five Olympia finishes
sports history, fans across (1990–2001). He achieved this in
the globe debate about which an era when there was only one
athlete from which generation weight class, and he rarely got
reigns supreme and should be heavier than 210 pounds.
dubbed “the greatest of all time” In 2008, we saw the emergence
Bodybuilding is no different f the 202-pound class. After
The past three decades h years and seeing two cham-
seen some of the most in David Henry and three-
iconic “small” body- me winner Kevin English,
builders (those under e IFBB Pro League
220 pounds) in the ecided to increase the
storied history of weight limit to 212
the sport— ounds.
Mohammed This set the stage
Benaziza, Lee Flex Lewis to
Labrada, Lee Pri dominant seven
and, of course, S stablishing him-
Ray, who all com eyes of many,
against much larg ve “small” GOAT.
And if you were e overwhelming
himself, who is now oesn’t agree.
ing expert and comm is is a phenomenal
who, out of the small der, a great champ-
would’ve been a champ a true ambassador of
given a division of his own port,” he says. “But the
answer is simple: “Me!” e thing Flex never had to do
Referring to the 202-pound was stand next to the guys I
(now 212) weight class, which did. I was beating guys like Flex
was established in 2008, he says, Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, Vince
“If there had been a 212 title Taylor, Chris Cormier, and other
back in my day, I have no doubt guys who were taller than me
I would’ve been hailed as the and outweighed me by 20 to 30
greatest of all time.” pounds or more, and I just don’t
Ray earned his IFBB Pro League know that Lewis would’ve been
card at the 1987 NPC National able to do the same.” (Lewis,
Championships at the age of 22. though, plans to compete in the
He went on to win the Ironman open class in 2021.)
Pro and the Arnold Classic, and And as long as Ray has a plat-
although he never found himself form to speak from, he’ll always C H R I S L U N D
in the top spot at the Olympia, proclaim himself 212’s best.
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