by Christian Duque
Shaun Clarida is $16,000 richer and has gained one other open bodybuilding title for his mantle. This victory makes him eligible to compete on the 2026 Mr. Olympia, but it surely additionally speaks to a degree pushed by former Olympia Prime 6 legend Lee Priest who doesn’t consider there needs to be a 212 Bodybuilding Division to start with. We’ll discuss concerning the 2025 IFBB Professional League Japan Professional that Clarida gained, additional cementing his place as The Big Killer. Some followers have floated the concept Shaun will compete on the open Olympia in 2026 after which retire – a notion I discover to be preposterous; nevertheless, we’ll discuss all of it on this action-packed article proper right here at IronMag!
For starters, I’d wish to congratulate my pal Shaun Clarida on one other huge win for his already spectacular resume. Not too way back, Shaun was very a lot an underdog. I can nonetheless bear in mind a time when even suggesting Shaun could possibly be Prime 3 on the 212 Olympia Showdown was met with disbelief. There have been lengthy pictures, after which there was Shaun. It’s not that Shaun didn’t have a great physique, it’s simply that he was on the smaller finish of an already small division.
The 212 is for guys which can be often lots lighter but additionally lots shorter than the open contenders. Shaun by no means touched 200 lbs and the very fact is he was not thought of any person that could possibly be a prime man, simply eliminated him from many predictions. Anytime his title got here up in dialog loads of instances it was met with both disbelief or he would instantly get written off. When he began inserting within the cash, folks began to take discover. However then the query of him successful turned virtually like a no-go. Then he began successful however then the thought of him competing within the open was virtually laughable to most. Then when he beat guys that had been over 100 kilos heavier in prime type, folks began to heat as much as the concept he could possibly be an open bodybuilding contender for main titles.
Clarida is a bodybuilder that has overcome great adversity and has all the time come out on prime. He’s identified for ridiculous situation, great muscularity, and actually working arduous on no matter stage he steps foot on. It’s because he’s any person that doesn’t take no for a solution. He’s additionally not any person that rests on his laurels. Even when he gained his two Olympia titles, he was all the time desirous about the long run. He was by no means one for procrastinating and he positively by no means complained. Due to this fact congratulations are in retailer.
The 2025 Japan Professional was no cakewalk. Shaun’s major competitors got here from Florian Antoine Gilles Poirson, who actually hit the stage all programs go. Florian actually works the stage and has been identified to get excessive marks from the judges for his very detail-oriented presentation of the muscle. He additionally is way larger than Shaun (as was everybody else) however dimension doesn’t matter to a man referred to as The Big Killer. One other man who acquired loads of consideration from the media was Joan Pradells. Many thought that if anybody would cease The Big Killer within the land of the rising solar, it could have been Pradells.
Me, personally, I didn’t suppose anybody was going to cease Shaun if he got here in situation. I get it, Shaun isn’t going to win any top contests and he’s on the lighter finish – even of the 212 – however his mastery of the obligatory poses permits him to actually flip the tables on the competitors. He is aware of the place to face, what sides to point out, and regardless that the mandatories name for strict adherence, GK is aware of methods to outangle the competitors with out falling into the goofing-off class like poor Andrew Jacked did at this previous Mr. O.
With Clarida you get a really harmful competitor who is aware of what to not do, however methods to do it when the time is correct. It’s not dishonest, it’s known as understanding the game just like the again of your hand. It’s how a man that offers up quite a few inches and as a lot as 100lbs can nonetheless draw extra eyes than the mass giants who suppose they’ll trounce on him.
The Japan Professional had some strong expertise, however Shaun was higher. fifth place finisher Marc Hector appeared superb and a case may be made that 4th and fifth may have switched order. That stated, Jan Turek appeared very sharp, particularly from the aspect poses. I believe everybody within the Prime 5 deserved to be there and the promoter gave the followers an amazing present to observe.
For individuals who couldn’t be on the contest, seeing the protection was additionally a deal with. Pictures and movies simply don’t lie. Nobody on the inter webs has sounded off that GK didn’t deserve the win. We didn’t see that on the now well-known Reno Sports activities Fest the place Shaun bested a really spectacular Sergio Oliva Jr and a large Regan Grimes some years in the past, both. There, Grimes towered over Clarida and outweighed him considerably, however he was simply no match. And as a lot as guys like Florian, Joan, and Jan appeared, they fell brief in Japan like Grimes and Oliva did in Reno did in Japan. It’s because a shorter, lighter man can beat a taller, heavier man in bodybuilding. And that’s as a result of it’s neither a top or weight contest.
This takes us to the purpose pushed by Lee Priest concerning the way forward for The 212 as a division. Ought to it’s scrapped? I imply if guys like Shaun can win open reveals, then it stands to purpose that there’s no want for a second professional bodybuilding division, proper? Properly, not so quick. Again in Lee’s day there was no 212. Nonetheless, he was in a position to get Prime 6 within the open. And again in these days, the Open was much more conditioned and lots larger than it’s in the present day. Am I saying bodybuilding was higher then? Properly, it was a special period and it was tougher – sure. That stated, Lee was the exception. Guys like him, possibly Conceal, and possibly David Henry may have pulled one thing like that off, however I’d argue many of the others at that top and weight couldn’t. That’s, after all, a debatable level.
Most of what we discuss in physique-based sports activities is subjective. That stated, I’d argue that The 212 (like The 202 earlier than it) serves an necessary perform for guys who’re considerably lighter than the open guys and want a spot to compete. A lot of the 212 guys couldn’t see the form of success Shaun does. However why not?
I don’t know why not, I simply do. Guys like Shaun are genetic freaks, however they’re additionally workhorses. So the query is “who desires it extra?” If that’s the query, I don’t actually have a solution for you. I get the place Lee is coming from and I don’t have any counterpoints that might completely win the controversy, however whereas The 212 is right here, I believe guys like Shaun will dominate.
Sadly, nevertheless, it’s not a division that’s doing too effectively. The Arnold removed it when Flex Lewis retired and has by no means introduced it again. The prize cash – even on the O – pales considerably compared to the open, regardless that it’s a bodybuilding division. The 212 presents loads of guys that might in any other case not have a shot within the open to compete, a spot the place they’ll at the very least conceivably have a shot. The issue is, what number of followers truly wish to see that? And what number of promoters wish to provide a division that’s somewhat boring to observe? Lee isn’t saying one thing that loads of us aren’t pondering. The Prime 5 of the 212 Olympia Showdown is an actual present to catch! The remainder of the division is considerably dying on the vine.
So will Shaun do the open Olympia in 2026 or the 212 Olympia Showdown? Can he do each? I believe that it’s too untimely to debate this and I extremely doubt the champ will make his resolution identified this early, both. Greater than seemingly, nevertheless, I see him making an attempt for his third 212 Olympia title. If I had been him, I’d go that route as an alternative of doubtless going for Prime 6 within the open.
Will Shaun retire in 2026? That’s simply foolish to me. Why would a man who’s successful open bodybuilding reveals towards prime guys like Jan Turek and Marc Hector, retire? If he retires, that’s one factor, however he’s not outdated, he’s not injured, and he’s successful OPEN reveals whereas technically a 212 man. I believe the slightest suggestion of retirement is nothing wanting clickbait by these huge retailers. They want the hits they usually’ll do absolutely anything for shock worth. There’s no purpose for Shaun to even ponder retirement.
So what did you consider the 2025 IFBB Professional League Japan Professional? What do you suppose Shaun will do sooner or later? As all the time, thanks for studying my article, right here, at IronMag. I sit up for studying your suggestions within the feedback. Please be sure you copy and paste a hyperlink to this text on all of your social media feeds. It’s assured to generate energetic dialog.
