The dust settled in Teaneck, New Jersey with Nick Walker reclaiming his status as the New York Pro champion. Breaking down the finals pose by pose, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion recapped the event, offering his insight into the results.
Heading into the 2024 New York Pro, attention was focused on Nick Walker, whose career was on the line after suffering a devastating hamstring and calf tear. Considering he was forced to pull out of the 2023 Olympia contest, he had a lot to prove in his comeback.
Even though ‘The Mutant’ was a clear favorite to win, fans and judges were blown away by the refined conditioning and fullness of Detroit Pro winner Martin Fitzwater. The contest was certainly close, prompting Manion to shed some light on the outcome.
Tyler Manion Analyzes 2024 New York Pro Results, Says Nick Walker Wasn’t At His Best
According to Manion, Fitzwater achieved the ‘perfect’ bodybuilding peak at the 2024 New York Pro.
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“He came in here with I think what you would call a perfect bodybuilding peak. This guy’s [Martin Fitzwater] conditioning, separation was next-level. Basically, almost his hamstrings were cross-striated. That’s how deep the cuts were on him and the detail that he brought out in his physique, which made him look way denser than he did in Detroit.”
Although Walker won the contest, Manion underlined that this wasn’t his best look.
“We have Nick. I think Nick brought a good package here but this was definitely not the best Nick Walker we’ve seen. I think it’s important to highlight that,” said Tyler Manion.
“I think Nick’s conditioning was good, it wasn’t definitely what we’re used to seeing from him conditioning-wise but it was enough that it got the job done. Now, we’ll go into it pose by pose. I’ll break it down for you guys.”
Before assessing each mandatory pose, Tyler Manion mentioned that there were no ‘blowout’ shots where one competitor clearly dominated.
“There was no blowout either way on any pose. Even with Nick having the additional size and more size to his physique and freakiness, Martin brought a level of detail and refinement through his conditioning that made him hold his own at the very least in every pose.”
Front double biceps
Manion believes Walker’s waist looked wider in the front double biceps pose.
“Front double bicep, again, this pose, I think is a very close pose. So, for Nick. You obviously have amazing arms, freaky arms, he still exhibits a taper with flaring lats down into his waist. While his quads from the front aren’t the biggest, they have good enough separation and detail.”
“With Nick here, I do think his waist here got wider,” said Manion. “While Nick takes overall muscularity here, I don’t think he wins any other part of that. So, to start out, I gave Martin the front double biceps by a little bit.”
Verdict: Martin Fitzwater Wins This Pose
Front lat spread
Even though Fitzwater doesn’t open his lats up all the way in this pose, Manion thought his features were more deserving of the nod.
“Martin doesn’t open up his lats even all the way on this pose. I think Martin can hit the front lat spread much much better, little bit more arched to his back, his chest will look a little bit fuller, his taper will look a little bit better but overall comparing him right next to Nick, he does exhibit all the features much more that we look for in this pose. I think this was pretty clearly a Martin pose. He’s up 2-0.”
Verdict: Martin Fitzwater Wins This Pose
Side chest pose
He credited Nick Walker’s muscularity as the key to winning the side chest pose.
“I think Nick did a good job but not a great job of doing that. Again, on some of the poses, as we’re posing them through the prejudging and finals, it was getting lost just a little bit but at the end of the day, Nick came back to the finals much improved. I thought with better separation and conditioning than he was in the morning. At the end of the day, the overall muscularity is really hard to beat. Nick edges this pose out ever so slightly to make it 2-1.”
Verdict: Nick Walker Wins This Pose
Back double biceps
While it was close, Manion thought Walker’s back double biceps showcased more muscle.
“The overall back itself while Nick’s was definitely on the flat side in the morning but overall he just has a better shape and he does have what looks to be a little bit more muscle back there. Nick’s taper from the back is great especially in this back double bicep pose. I give this pose but not by a lot to Nick to make it 2-2.”
Verdict: Nick Walker Wins This Pose
Back lat spread
Due to a posing mistake made by Fitzwater, Manion contends that Walker won this shot.
“The hamstrings are there, the leg width is there, overall this has become which was one of his weaker poses into one of his stronger poses. For Martin, Martin was really rounding his spine too much on this so you’re seeing it flatten out his back a lot. Not only is it flattening his back but it’s taking away how wide he’ll be able to look in this pose.”
“I think he was making a sizeable mistake with how he was hitting this back lat spread. That’s what made this a clear pose for Nick. Now, we’re up to 3-2 for Nick.”
Verdict: Nick Walker Wins This Pose
Side tricep
Manion believes Walker won the side tricep pose decisively.
“Against Nick in this match-up, I thought this was definitely more of a Nick pose. So Nick takes it to make it 4-2 right now.”
Verdict: Nick Walker Wins This Pose
Abs and thigh
Thanks to more taper and a smaller waist, Fitzwater edged Walker out on the abs and thigh.
“I think Nick just has to work on getting that waistline back in because he has that ab detail that he’s able to hang with the guys that have the smaller waists and more taper in this pose. When his waistline is in more, just because of that detail he has through the core. So, this I thought was clear Martin pose, that would make it 4-3.”
Verdict: Martin Fitzwater Wins This Pose
Favorite most muscular
In the last ‘toss-up’ pose, Manion thought Walker won the most muscular and pointed to the strength of his crab variation.
“This is another toss-up pose,” says Manion. “Here’s why. We’re judging you on every single pose you’re doing.”
“When Nick is hitting this pose and Martin, which he did, mimicked this pose and copied the pose Nick was doing, Nick takes it. But, these guys moved around a lot.”
“He’s just losing on muscularity. Nick just has that crazy size to him and density. I would think Nick still edges it out,” said Manion. “I think he did it enough [crab most muscular] where he would still edge Martin out through both posing rounds.”
Verdict: Nick Walker Wins This Pose
Total Score: Nick Walker – 5 poses, Martin Fitzwater – 3 poses
Both men have been vocal about their experiences on stage in the show’s aftermath. Walker underlined that he honors his word when he says he will achieve something. Meanwhile, Fitzwater made it clear he wants to push into the first call-out at the 2024 Mr. Olympia following his breakout performance.
The 2024 New York Pro delivered unforgettable action in the Men’s Open class. Although Tyler Manion says this wasn’t the best Nick Walker we’ve seen, it was enough to defeat Fitzwater by two poses on stage.
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