Powerlifter Julius Maddox Crushes 700-Pound Bench Press for 4 Reps

The bench press is Julius Maddox’s area, and with one other current spectacular feat, it doesn’t appear like that’s altering any time quickly. On April 24, 2022, the powerlifter locked out a 318-kilogram bench press (700-pound) for 4 unbroken reps — a brand new private document (PR).

Take a look at a video of the carry under, courtesy of Maddox’s Instagram profile:

[Related: Tamara Walcott Notches 151.95-Kilogram Bench Press (335 Pounds) For 2 Reps]

Maddox powers by way of the set with relative ease. Three spotters are current to assist Maddox, however they by no means intervene. For the carry, Maddox donned a lifting belt and wrist straps. 

A Promising Rivalry

Excellent feats on the bench press are nothing new to Maddox. Thus far, he has by no means recorded a squat or deadlift throughout a sanctioned competitors, as he solely focuses on his bench press prowess. The main focus paid off for the powerlifter when he captured the present all-time world document holder with a 355-kilogram bench press (782.6 kilos) on the 2021 World Uncooked Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III.

His subsequent feat is to change into the primary man to bench press 800 kilos uncooked in a sanctioned competitors. 

Maddox’s rival, Daniel Zamani, is the primary man to bench press 800 kilos, uncooked. The Iranian powerlifter notched the feat with a 365-kilogram uncooked bench press (804.7-pound) throughout a coaching session on February 21, 2022. As each males compete as superheavyweights, if Zamani had completed the press throughout a contest, he would’ve supplanted Maddox’s document. 

Maddox and Zamani have been to sq. off in a bench press battle for supremacy on the 2022 Iron Wars V, however for undisclosed causes, that by no means occurred.

The 800-Pound Barrier

The pair have additionally spent a few of their current time sharpening up their work with different lifts. 

Within the two months since Zamani captured the unofficial bench press document, he’s been sharing movies of himself on Instagram grinding away along with his deadlift. Whereas adorned in lifting straps, the Iranian athlete has pulled as a lot as 345 kilograms (749.8 kilos). 

In the meantime, Maddox lately hit a 351.3-kilogram (775-pound) squat whereas utilizing a Kabuki Transformer Bar during a training session. Notably, he didn’t put on a lifting belt or knee sleeves for the carry. 

For Maddox particularly, his squat was possible solely a short lived break en path to climbing the 800-pound bench press mountain. Given his current progress, it would solely be a matter of time earlier than the powerlifter joins Zamani within the hallowed territory. If or as soon as that occurs, the remaining elephant within the room will probably be whether or not Maddox and Zamani lastly go face to face in a meet for the all-time world document. On the time of publishing, there aren’t any plans within the works. 

Whereas Maddox continues to set PRs, the powerlifting world is actually prepared for an official spherical of this promising bench press rivalry. 

Featured picture: @irregular_strength on Instagram