The current world record raw bench press is a mind-bending 355-kilograms (782.6 pounds) scored by Julius Maddox at the Hybrid Showdown III on Feb. 20, 2021. Before that (and many previous) world records, Maddox’s road to becoming the first human to bench press 363 kilograms (800.3 pounds) led to a notorious misload on June 20, 2020, at the East Race Muscle Gym in South Bend, IN.
Since then, there has only been one other lifter in the conversation who could potentially score the would-be legendary 800-pound bench press: Danial Zamani. Zamani took to his Instagram page recently to post a video of his heaviest bench press caught on film to date — a 350-kilogram (771.6-pound) lift. The speed with which Zamani moved a weight just five kilograms shy of the all-time world record is worth multiple replays, so check it out below:
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The first time Maddox scored a 350-kilogram (771.6-pound) bench press was during a training session on Feb. 2, 2021 — just 18 days before he locked out the current world record. Zamani and Maddox were scheduled to compete in a bench press battle on Jan. 24, 2022, at the Iron Wars V event held at the Iron Addicts Gym in Signal Hill, CA. Both lifters were likely to attempt the 800-pound milestone lift and potentially shoot for even more weight to secure the world record from the other.
However, that event does not appear to have occurred, though there also doesn’t appear to be an announcement regarding its postponement. According to an Instagram post caption, the event’s organizer, C.T. Fletcher, is “still hoping to get [Zamani] and…Julius Maddox at Iron Wars later this year.” While Fletcher did not list any potential dates for the clash of elite bench pressers, Zamani did state when he intends to attempt the 800-pound bench press:
In 15 days I will attempt world record my 100 percent power attempt will be on 800 lbs weight. [sic]
Fifteen days from Zamani’s post means he will attempt the 800-pound bench press on Feb. 8, 2022, though he did not state where. BarBend has reached out to Fletcher for comment if Zamani’s post refers to a rescheduled Iron Wars contest or if Zamani will attempt the all-time world record independently. This article will be updated accordingly as more information becomes available. If Zamani’s world record attempt, presumably scheduled for Feb. 8. 2022, is successful, he will be the first human ever to achieve the milestone bench press.
After that, it is anyone’s guess at how much weight either Zamani or Maddox would call for on the barbell at their pending bench press battle. Judging by Zamani’s recent lift, the all-time raw bench press world record as it stands may not be long for this world.
Featured image: @danialzamani1 on Instagram
