Archive for March 16th, 2009

Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup Postponed Until 2010

On Wednesday, American Media, Inc. (AMI) and the IFBB Professional League announced the debut of Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup in Berlin, Germany will be postponed until 2010.

“Since taking over Weider Publications and Joe Weider’s Olympia
Weekend in 2004, AMI has been dedicated to expanding bodybuilding not only in the United States, but across the world,” AMI Chairman, President and CEO David Pecker said. “Our intention in launching Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup is to continue those efforts by hosting an event on par with the biggest and best in the United States.

“Unfortunately, due to the current economic conditions in both America and Europe, it became increasingly apparent that matching the high standards we set every year with Olympia Weekend would be an extremely difficult task. As such, we will be postponing the inaugural Pro World Cup until 2010 in order to ensure that we will be giving the European fans the best possible bodybuilding experience.”

In 2010, Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup will be held at Messe Berlin in Berlin Germany on October 6-10, two weeks after Olympia Weekend. As originally planned, the weekend will include the European Pro Championships, a Powerlifting Supershow, a European FLEX Bikini Model Search and a Superstar Seminar.

Kai Greene Australian Pro Champion
By Joe Pietaro

Not resting on his laurels after winning the Arnold Classic less than two weeks ago, Kai Greene flew to the other side of the globe to stand in the winner’s circle once again, this time at the Australian Pro Grand Prix.

Other contestants who made the trek with Kai from Ohio to the ‘Land Down Under’ were Silvio Samuel and Toney Freeman, who finished in second and third place, respectively.

According to early reports out of Melbourne, the crowd in was fully behind Kai, especially when he performed his unique posing routine that he made an instant classic at the Arnold. He was called an “easy winner.”

A special part of the annual show in Australia is when the contestants walk into the crowd following the posedown, giving them a close-up view of the men they just cheered on. No doubt that Greene had more flashes going off in his face than anyone else present.

On a side note, Michael Kafalianos finished in fourth place in his professional debut and has qualified for the Mr. Olympia.

Article Source: Musclesportmag.com

2009 Australian Pro Grand Prix Results
by John Romano

Fresh off his Arnold Classic victory Kai Green endured a grueling flight half way around the world and landed no worse for the wear. He looked a little bigger than in Columbus and not quite as sharp (at least from the pics I’ve seen) but still good enough to slide once again into that first place slot.

Right behind him, Silvio Samuel finished in 2nd over much larger Toney Freeman. Freeman looked at least as good as he did in Columbus; while Silvio, shredded as usual, still lacked the 20 pounds needed (in my mind) to beat a guy like Toney. But, given the subjective nature of bodybuilding and the fact that the judging panel was pretty much completely different than it was in Columbus, Freeman had to graciously settle for third.

Michalis Kefalianos (4th) from Greece and Ivan Sadek (5th) rounded out the Top 5. While I’ve never heard of these guys, they certainly were two of the most shredded men I’ve ever seen. Their structures may have paled in comparison to the top 3, but their conditioning was so over-the-top it made up for what their physiques may have lacked in aesthetics. In their cases, conditioning trumped mass and symmetry.

Final Placings:

1. Kai Greene
2 . Silvio Samuel Saviour
3 . Toney Freeman
4 . Michalis Kefalianos
5 . Ivan Sadek
6 . Oscar Tua Dexter
7 . Rusty Jeffers
8 . Constanties Demetrious
9 . Grant Andre Pieterse

Article Source: Rxmuscle.com