The excitement for the 2024 New York Pro is palpable for fans who expect an action-packed showdown in the Men’s Open division. In a recent YouTube video, contender Martin Fitzwater discussed his progress for the contest and laid out why he believes he can defeat Nick Walker on May 18.
Steve Weinberger’s annual New York Pro is widely considered the third most prestigious event on the IFBB calendar behind the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. With gold, a $30,000 cash prize, and an Olympia qualification on the line, competitors are aiming to bring next-level physiques to The Empire State.
Although Nick Walker stands atop the lineup as the clear favorite, there are other notable Open threats eager to take him out. Among them is Martin Fitzwater, who recently took first place in a dominant showing at the 2024 Detroit Pro. Even though Fitzwater has secured his qualification to the Mr. Olympia, he wants to test himself against ‘The Mutant’ next weekend.
Martin Fitzwater Talks Improvements This Season, Says He Can Beat Nick Walker at 2024 New York Pro
Looking ahead, Fitzwater plans to improve his arms, chest, and midsection. He is using Hadi Choopan‘s physique as a blueprint.
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“Moving forward, looking at the Olympia and stuff, I could still use a thicker chest, still could use bigger arms, still can improve the midsection more. That’s something that I took really seriously over the last year and I think that paid off drastically.
Looking at Hadi’s midsection, it’s just a cheat code, any time you can have that deep separated abs and the serratus be all crazy and detailed and stuff. So, there’s more work to be done as well. I still got to mature this muscle up more and more. I’m only 27.”
In addition, Fitzwater intends to tweak some of his poses and hold his stronger shots for longer at his next showing.
“Going into New York, holding some of my stronger poses longer. Some minor tweaks to some poses that he [Tyler Manion] where he likes the detail in one direction versus the other direction. You know how I hit my abs and thigh, not only the vacuum portion but kicked my leg up and kind of bent my knee so it would get all the hip flexor detail out.”
With added tissue work this season, Fitzwater believes he might be able to open up his back double biceps for a better appearance on stage.
“We can widen me out some more and stuff. I was really bound up and now I got a really good guy that works on Chris working on me now. I’m getting a bunch of sessions in with him before New York and hopefully get my back to open up a little bit more and hit those shots better.”
Despite Walker’s status as a frontrunner, Fitzwater is confident he could defeat him in New York or at least give him a run for his money.
“Are you confident enough you can beat him [Nick Walker]?” asks Milos Sarcev.
“I am, I think I’ll give him a run for his money in some shots at least, no matter what. His weaker shots are some of my stronger shots and I think that will be really cool next to him. I know he’s an incredible bodybuilder. It’ll be awesome to see. I’m actually really really excited for this.”
Aside from Walker, Fitzwater expects a tough battle from Tonio Burton.
“Not only that, but Tonio is going to be there. He was number eight in the world. So, that gives me another good kind of direction of where I’ll be shooting at at the Olympia in that direction as well. It also gives me more time to learn my body.”
“When you’re that peeled you have to eat enough so that you’re not flat and that you look crazy. Right now, I wake up better every day just improving. We bumped my food so I’m up some pounds but the conditioning is right in that same spot. Then, we’ll dig back down into this again and see what we can get.”
All in all, ‘The Martian’s’ focus is on bringing the details out of his physique with exceptional conditioning.
“The details out, we talked and I think my low back could be more dug out and I think my upper glutes can still get more striations to come all the way into them. I want to push it in. I definitely want to be known for conditioning so I want to see how much we can do this. I want to look like a plastic robot up there,” says Martin Fitzwater.
Not only will Fitzwater be tasked with a showdown against ‘The Mutant,’ but he also has the shape and x-factor of Quinton Eriya to worry about. Additionally, the reigning New York Pro champion Tonio Burton will be at the contest aiming to defend his title.
At only 29 years old, Martin Fitzwater shows immense promise in the Men’s Open class. If he upsets Walker on May 18, he’ll carry significant momentum into the 2024 Mr. Olympia in October.
RELATED: Nick Walker Pushes Through Heavy Leg Workout 2 Weeks Before 2024 New York Pro
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