Julius Maddox - Image Credit @irregular_strength Instagram
The bench press has been and will always be one of the main ways to show off strength, not only among the regular gym-goers, but also among professional athletes. However, there has never been a better bench presser than Julius Maddox and we are lucky to witness his progression live. Julius is currently attempting to become the first person to bench press 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) in a sanctioned event, a goal he appears to be getting closer to each day. The reason for this is his most recent feat, as Julius bench pressed 730 pounds (331.1 kilograms) in training. However, as was evident in his Instagram post, Julius’ bench had a twist. He completed the rep with an unusually long pause.
Performing the bench press with a pause is not unusual, but doing so with a weight of 730 pounds (331.1 kilograms) is one of the most impressive feats of strength displayed by a human. Julius Maddox even made his pause longer than usual, which also helped him correct the uneven barbell position.
Coming down on the bench, Julius Maddox only equipped himself with a pair of wrist wraps, making his lift raw. The effect of the wrist wraps is also not performance-enhancing, since they just serve to ease the pressure on the joints.
“Bar came off uneven but adjusted with a long pause. I’m back so get your popcorn ready.”
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Only one person has bench pressed over 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms), but it is only unofficial. Danial Zamani loaded the massive weight during his training session in February of 2022. However, there was no way to confirm if it actually weighed as much as he said. So, it is still unofficial.
On the other hand, Julius Maddox holds the official All-Time World Record of 782.6 pounds (355 kilograms). Julius set this record at the 2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III. Ever since then, Julius has been trying to cross the 800-pound (362.9-kilogram) milestone, but has been unsuccessful. He has attempted to lift this weight in three competitions so far, falling short on every occasions.
The closest that Julius Maddox has ever gotten was in May of last year, when he benched 796 pounds (361 kilograms) during his training. He is now back to progressively overloading his bench, and hopes that this time he makes it.
Julius Maddox’s powerlifting career is also fully centered on the bench press, as he has never competed in other events. However, out of the 18 sanctioned events in which he performed the bench press, he managed to rank first in all of them.
Julius Maddox’s 730-pound (331.2-kilogram) long pause bench press also looked relatively easy. So, it is crazy to think that he is getting closer to the 800-pound (362.9-kilogram) bench press without showing almost any signs of struggle. Julius will now continue following his program, which might see him put up a historic lift in the near future.
If you have questions or need clarifications, please leave a comment below, and Vedad will respond promptly.
Vedad is a journalist specializing in strength sports, with three years of experience covering powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, strongman, armwrestling and bodybuilding. He is a lifelong fitness enthusiast, passionate about all aspects of strength training. Vedad's in-depth knowledge of training methodologies and dedication to constant research fuel his insightful and engaging reporting. He works hard to deliver accurate content while continuously seeking to improve his craft.
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