Hunter Labrada‘s major triumph at the 2024 Promuscle Italy Pro sent shockwaves through the Men’s Open division ahead of the Mr. Olympia. On September 10, 2024, Jay Cutler and Milos Sarcev discussed Labrada’s chances against Nick Walker at the nearing 2024 Mr. Olympia, set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada next month from October 10-13.
Having traveled overseas to earn a last-minute qualification for the Olympia, Hunter Labrada made a powerful impression thanks to his newfound size, fullness, and granite conditioning levels. He surpassed Andrea Presti on the scorecards in Italy to cement his right to stand atop the Mr. Olympia stage for a fifth time.
While many bodybuilding enthusiasts had Hunter Labrada defeating Nick Walker at the Olympia, those sentiments have taken a turn. Although Labrada brought one of his best looks to the stage last weekend, some, including Milos Sarcev, believe he unsuccessfully hid his weak midsection from the judging panel. Initially, Sarcev thought Labrada would overcome Walker on the sport’s greatest stage, but is now changing his tune after watching the results unfold at the Promuscle Italy Pro show.
Milos Sarcev Tells Jay Cutler Hunter Labrada ‘Fooling Judges’ W/ Weak Midsection, Talks Chances Against Nick Walker at 2024 Mr. Olympia
As for Labrada’s strengths, Sarcev believes his ‘legs are off the charts’ and pointed out his back improvements, though admits he’s yet to reach the standard set by the reigning champion Derek Lunsford.
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“Super impressive. I mean, to realize how much muscle he has… legs are off the charts. Starting from the bottom, calves, like holy shit. Quads separated, sweeped, hamstring, glutes, everything is there. Back, it was already improved now it’s even more improved. His back is top-notch, not Derek Lunsford’s back double biceps maybe but he’s getting there.”
Cutler credited Labrada for adding quality size but Sarcev underlined that his abdomen is a glaring weakness.
“He improved a lot size-wise,” adds Cutler.
“Arms, shoulders, V-taper,” said Sarcev. “Yes, he has [a weak body part], the center of the body. Oh just that part? That’s the center of the body.”
Sarcev specified that Labrada ‘hiding his midsection’ won’t fool the judges or the audience.
“You’re going to tell everybody to block it [weak body parts]? If you do this, [cross arms] before front double biceps, and do this for the lat spread, and do this before a side chest and everything else, who do you think you’re fooling?
Oh, I’m blocking it so you can’t see it. As you don’t see it, you can’t judge me and you can’t — but okay, are you fooling judges or the audience or are you fooling yourself? Fix it,” urges Sarcev. “He’s hiding his midsection. So, you are aware of the midsection, yes, you’re telling judges and audience and the world that you know that’s the problem area so you recognize this. Judges are penalizing you for what you already recognize, why would you complain?”
In light of Labrada’s latest performance and physique, Milos Sarcev now asserts that Nick Walker will place higher than him at the 2024 Mr. Olympia.
“I was putting him ahead of Nick in my predictions, now I’m putting Nick,” says Sarcev.
“Do you think this reverses people’s predictions,” asks Cutler.
“If you are honest and you analyze right? And we analyze and we realize that it’s so harsh but stating the truth okay, the facts?
While Sarcev has always appreciated Labrada’s physique, he believes his stomach ‘was never really there’ and hasn’t gotten better over time.
“Since the beginning, I love his physique and I think he can be Mr. Olympia if everything grew perfectly, perfect balance, perfect shape. His stomach was never really there but it was not as bad as this,” said Sarcev.
Sarcev contends that Labrada doesn’t need to concern himself with size anymore, he simply needs to fix his abs. Cutler doesn’t believe Labrada will ‘fall that far back’ on the Mr. Olympia stage.
“He was fourth at the Olympia, then he was seventh, then he was sixth,” explains Cutler.
“If he fixes the abs, does he need to be bigger? [No] because first and second are not bigger than him, right? So you don’t need to do that.”
“He’s going to learn from this and turn it up I feel like and I think Nick — I know a lot of people are counting Nick out but I think Nick is going to pull it together and shock people,” says Cutler. “I don’t expect him [Hunter Labrada] to fall that far back,” Cutler shared.
While Labrada possesses a number of assets, Sarcev said he doesn’t have striated delts, shoulders, or deep abs, which could hold him back from a higher placing.
“Muscle mass yes, width, quality, great arms, great great arms, peaking biceps, hanging triceps, Jesus Christ, right? Legs, everything. Back double of the twisting back shots, spectacular, side triceps shot, oh wow, he doesn’t have striated delts, striated chest, and deep abs,” explains Milos Sarcev.
Aside from Nick Walker, Labrada will face a deep pool of talent when he graces the Olympia stage. A supersized Andrew Jacked, who won the 2024 Texas Pro, will be in attendance for his third appearance on the prestigious stage. In addition, Labrada will have to contend with the three on-paper frontrunners including Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Samson Dauda. Former Olympia winner Brandon Curry will also be at the event in hopes of reclaiming his crown.
If Hunter Labrada can significantly improve his midsection in time for Olympia, Sarcev believes he could possibly win the show. However, as long as he continues to hide his abs on stage, he has his doubts, especially in a direct showdown against Nick Walker.
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