Dexter Jackson Rules in Madrid | & Breaks Another Record
Dexter Jackson Rules in Madrid
And Breaks Another Record
Dexter Jackson in winning today’s (September 26th) Arnold Classic Europe in Madrid, Spain, keeps buzzing like the Energizer Bunny on speed breaking record after record. This was his 76th Pro contest (Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier are next tied on 72 contests) and the Spanish win was his 23rd in the paid ranks, taking him clear of Vince Taylor, with whom he was previously locked on 22 wins. Ahead is Ronnie Coleman’s 25-win record.
Traditionally down the years the first round of judging for the contest following the Mr. Olympia bash is at the Olympia, where a prior pecking order takes shape. For the 2015 Arnold Classic Europe, with Olympia champ Phil Heath stepping out, those finishing second through fifth in Vegas (Dexter Jackson, Shawn Rhoden, Dennis Wolf and Big Ramy respectively) were the focus of Spanish attention. And in fact the final four order today was: 1st Dexter Jackson, 2nd Shawn Rhoden, 3rd Dennis Wolf, 4th Big Ramy, 5th Roelly Winklaar, 6th William Bonac, which rubber-stamped the Vegas score card.
It has to be said the all looked like they all faded a little from Sin City, although the poor lighting may be partly responsible for that view. Whatever, it wasn’t a case of who improved the most after the Olympia, more succinctly the key to victory today was who receded the least. Which was sort of disappointing because no one unleashed a post Olympia “Wow! Factor!”
Big Ramy in fourth looked huge but uncut. He was maybe retaining a bit more water than a week before, but those massive thighs and relatively small waist (perhaps a bit wider than a week ago) hint at what proportions he’d have in ripped condition.
In taking third Dennis Wolf was pretty big at the start of prejudging but his fullness was maybe helped by a little water. By the last call out of the prejudging his fullness fell away and he just wasn’t effective in playing the WTF size card, particularly with his signature most muscular shot. He seemed to diminish even more by the finals. It has now become a common problem for Dennis that he starts prejudging nice and full and then gets smaller.
In repeating his runner-up spot from the 2014 Arnold Europe, Shawn Rhoden had banished his lower ab distension of a week ago but looked bigger and so not as sharp – especially quads- as his third place in the big show. On the plus side he has increased his width this year. Overall this possessor of a really classy physique needs a bit more devil in his onstage persona.
Dexter looked a bit fuller and maybe a tad, a tad, softer than last week, particularly in thighs. His back stood out, its sheer thickness bringing out the deep cuts and detail. That aspect, and his completeness, was what nailed down his record breaking 23rd pro win.
So, what’s next for Dexter? Looks like he may skip the lucrative Arnold Classic payday in Columbus next March and enter the NY Pro in May. Why, given the huge discrepancy in prize money ($130k against $15k)? Well, he’s never won the Big Apple showdown so he feels a victory there would help round out his resume. When you have 23 pro wins (with no –one in sight to catch you) and have harvested a record breaking five Arnold (USA) Classics (with no –one in sight to catch you) you are free to make such decisions.
## A final thought: ‘90s conditioning seems a long time ago – I miss it.
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