The Item: Tribute to a Champion, Andrew Oye's IFBB Pro Athletes Roundup
The Scoop: Just Reported: IFBB Pro Mike Matarazzo passed away at 48 (November 8, 1965 -- August 16, 2014).
The "So What?": A former boxer, Mike Matarazzo left Boston, Massachusetts, to pursue
professional bodybuilding in its "Mecca" -- Venice, California. He won
the 1991 NPC USA Bodybuilding Championships, earned his IFBB Pro card
and entered the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness.
As reported in "Andrew Oye's Pro-Muscle Report," although the
5'10", 250-pound Matarazzo never won a 1st place victory in a pro
bodybuilding contest during his decade-long career, he competed on the
prestigious stage of the Mr. Olympia Championships at Joe Weider's
Olympia Weekend seven times (spanning the reigns of three Olympia
Sandow-trophy winners): in 1991 (won by IFBB Pro Lee Haney); in 1993 and
1996 (won by IFBB Pro Dorian Yates); and in 1999 and -- his final
contest -- 2001 (won by IFBB Pro Ronnie Coleman). He also competed at
the Arnold Sports Festival's IFBB Pro Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic
Bodybuilding Championships in 1992 (won by IFBB Pro Vince Taylor); 1993
(won by IFBB Pro Flex Wheeler); and 1994 (won by IFBB Pro Kevin
Levrone). Matarazo's highest placing was at the 1997 Canada Pro Cup,
where took 2nd place to IFBB Pro Milos Sarcev and finished ahead of IFBB
Pro Chris Cormier and IFBB Pro Gunter Schlierkamp.
A previous
edition of the Pro Athletes Roundup (in the MUSCLE INK Magazine "Boston Mass" feature) noted that Mike Matarazzo was
renowned for his tremendous biceps and calf muscles, his brashness and
his charisma during competitions, because, as he said, he was a fan as
well. "I try to get as much fan participation as possible," Matarazzo
explained. "When I first turned pro in 1991, I was the first bodybuilder
to [leave the stage and] jump into the audience...These fans pay their
hard-earned money to come see us. We should give them a show...When it's
time to party up there, it's time to party and you should make [the
fans] a part of it." This crowd-pleaser mentality was evidenced by his
memorable 1999 Olympia routine that transitioned from classic posing to a
ballad into a rock-and-roll beast-mode show.
Contest History
1991 NPC USA Championships (Heavyweight, 1st and Overall)
1991 IFBB Mr. Olympia
1992 IFBB Arnold Classic (15th)
1992 IFBB Ironman Pro Invitational (5th)
1993 IFBB Arnold Classic (6th)
1993 IFBB Night of Champions (8th)
1993 IFBB Mr. Olympia (18th)
1993 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Invitational (2nd)
1994 IFBB Arnold Classic (9th)
1994 IFBB San Jose Pro Invitational (8th)
1995 IFBB Florida Pro Invitational (7th)
1995 IFBB South Beach Pro Invitational (7th)
1996 IFBB Grand Prix Czech Republic (9th)
1996 IFBB Grand Prix Russia (9th)
1996 IFBB Grand Prix Switzerland (9th)
1996 IFBB Night of Champions (5th)
1996 IFBB Mr. Olympia (13th)
1997 IFBB Canada Pro Cup (2nd)
1997 IFBB Grand Prix Germany (11th)
1997 IFBB Grand Prix Hungary (10th)
1997 IFBB Grand Prix Spain (10th)
1997 IFBB Night of Champions (4th)
1997 IFBB Mr. Olympia (13th)
1997 IFBB Toronto Pro Invitational (2nd)
1998 IFBB Night of Champions (3rd)
1998 IFBB Mr. Olympia (9th)
1998 IFBB San Francisco Pro Invitational (7th)
1998 IFBB Toronto Pro Invitational (3rd)
1999 IFBB Mr. Olympia (11th)
2000 IFBB Night of Champions
2000 IFBB Toronto Pro Invitational (6th)
2001 IFBB Night of Champions (5th)
2001 IFBB Mr. Olympia (21st)
Andrew Oye's Verdict: Massively popular among fans and fellow competitors, Mike Matarazzo's passing drew
an outpouring of condolences from other IFBB Pro League athletes for
the family-oriented nice guy who, ironically, passed in Palo Alto,
California, awaiting a heart transplant, on nearly the same day as his father's passing date 11 years
ago (August 17, 2003).
IFBB Pro Bob Cicherillo: "Although we
competed against each other, Mike was always there with encouragement...He
was one of the first to wish congrats when I finally won the USA
[Championships] and said, 'Welcome to the family.' I met Mike's dad some
years back and he was exactly what you would expect...an older version
of Mike. He was a big man and Mike got the biggest kick out of having
his father show us his calves. 'See where I get it from, look at those
mawnsters!' His thick Boston accent ever present. Rest in peace, my
friend."
IFBB Pro Milos Sarcev: "Mike was known for his two passions: bodybuilding and incredible love for his father, his adored hero. Mike
Matarazzo made a point to introduce all of us to his father, who was in
a wheelchair, sometimes having extremely hard time being there, but he
would never miss a single contest Mike entered and he was a gentleman
like no other. He knew all of us competing against his son and...would
approach each and every one of us, wishing us good luck just before we
would step on the stage and congratulate us afterwards...Mike was beyond
proud of his father (and vice versa). Rest in peace, Mike. It was an
honor competing with you."
IFBB Pro Shawn Ray: "One of the true
hardcore bodybuilders who never forgot where he came from or who he
was...which spoke volumes to how much he thought of his father and now
he's reunited with [him]...I feel grateful to have known Mike and the kind
of person he was...He made a life out of this sport, saw the world,
inspired many and became known all over the world based on his
blue-collar training. Iron Mike, may you rest in peace and give your
father a big hug for me."
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