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...
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Julius Maddox Performs Smooth 760-lb Raw Bench Press - Image credit @irregular_strength & @animalpak Instagram
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The bench press is arguably the most universal way of testing strength, and it has been clear for years who the strongest man in this event is. Of course, it is none other than Julius Maddox. The powerlifter has been the undisputed champion of the bench for an incredibly long time, but he is still pushing himself in hopes of further improving the record. Consequently, during his most recent appearance at the 2025 Arnold Sports Festival, Julius Maddox ended up locking out a massive 760-pound (345-kilogram) raw bench press.
Julius Maddox performed the lift raw, wearing nothing except for a pair of wrist wraps, which were there to protect his joints considering how much pressure they had to endure. He got hyped up by the crowd and his personal crew, receiving a few slaps on his back and going straight to the bench. Julius wasted no time or energy, taking the bar out from the rack and quickly lowering it to his chest. He pressed the bar with surprising speed, making it look extremely easy.
The 2025 Arnold Sports Festival took place from February 27 to March 02 in Columbus, Ohio. He appeared in the so-called ‘CAGE’ by Animal, which gathered some of the strongest people in the world and had them perform incredible feats of strength in front of a packed crowd. So the event wasn’t sanctioned by any powerlifting federation, making Julius’ lift unofficial. However, that doesn’t take away from how impressive it is, as he will certainly be able to replicate the achievement when he enters a powerlifting competition.
For reference, the current official All-Time Raw Bench Press World Record stands at 782.6 pounds (355 kilograms). It was set by Julius Maddox at the 2021 WRPF Hybrid Showdown III. So, while his most recent lift is a bit lighter than the record, it is important to note that the speed at which it moved indicates that Julius might already be capable of exceeding it.
However, Julius Maddox does not only want to break the record. Instead, he wants to become the first person in history to officially bench press 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) in a sanctioned powerlifting competition. He has already attempted the feat on multiple occasions but was never successful.
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Julius Maddox’s sole focus throughout his powerlifting career has been the bench press. So, despite making 18 sanctioned powerlifting appearances, he never once performed the squat or the deadlift. However, his bench prowess made him world famous, as he is widely recognized as the greatest ever.
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: August 17, 2023
Julius Maddox has not revealed when his next attempt at bench pressing 800 pounds (362.9 kilograms) will take place, but it is clear that he is working up to it. Moreover, the incredibly fast 760-pound (345-kilogram) bench press he achieved recently will certainly boost his confidence. Julius is also set to be a special guest at the 2025 Siberian Power Show, which will take place on April 19-20. So, it remains to be seen how much weight he will decide to put on the barbell there.
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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