The 2026 New York Pro will see a crop of Men’s Open contenders battle for gold. In a YouTube video from May 7, industry expert Bob Cicherillo revealed his top four picks ahead of the event.
In 2025, Nick Walker secured his third New York Pro victory. He has chosen not to compete this year, paving the way for a new champ to leave with the title. Slovakian mass monster Michal ‘Krizo’ Krizanek is among the favorites. He gained considerable momentum after claiming gold at the ESN British Grand Prix Pro and is already Olympia-qualified.
Tonio Burton is another big-name bodybuilder to watch. His vascularity, bubbly muscle volume, and completeness could give Krizo trouble, especially in the rear poses. Burton took eighth at last year’s Olympia and won the Mexico Pro, giving him ample confidence heading into his next contest. His return to the stage has been all the more impressive considering he was involved in a violent motorcycle crash back in 2024.
Meanwhile, attention around Rafael Brandao has picked up. He is eager to redeem himself after falling to sixth place at the 2026 Arnold Classic Ohio. In just a short window of time, the Brazilian star has managed to pack on five kilograms, which he showcased in a shredded physique update.
Bob Cicherillo Predicts The Top 4 Men’s Open Finishers at the 2026 New York Pro
In the latest Voice of Bodybuilding podcast, Cicherillo revealed his top four Men’s Open picks for the 2026 New York Pro.
Find his picks below (in no particular order):
- Rafael Brandao
- Tonio Burton
- Michal Krizo
- Blessing Awodibu
Bodybuilding veterans like Burton’s chances in New York. Iain Valliere, Seth Feroce, and Akim Williams laid out their top 10 predictions. Interestingly, all three had Burton pulling off the big win, with Krizo taking the runner-up position.
In contrast, esteemed bodybuilding coaches have gotten behind Krizo. According to Chris Aceto, who trains the reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford, Krizo is the most dangerous athlete in the lineup. Milos Sarcev shared a similar sentiment. He labeled Krizo the favorite and offered him key posing tips to improve his presentation:
“Now, he’s at his all-time best. What is missing always? Presentation. He comes on the stage, and he looks like he has to look at his body when he does pose, right? And forgets about the stomach and cannot last two or three rounds. So, if Michal is listening right, you just need to control your breathing and stomach.”
Steve Weinberger’s annual New York Pro show is considered the third-biggest contest on the IFBB Pro League calendar. The event is set for May 8-9 in Teaneck, New Jersey. Keep it locked on Fitness Volt for live coverage.
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