The 2023 Memphis Pro Men’s Physique contest is set to take place on Saturday, April 8, 2023, in Memphis, TN. There are 18 athletes scheduled to step onstage and face the judges at this event.
Aside from the first-place trophy and the adoration of the fans in attendance, the winner will earn an invite to compete in the 2023 Men’s Physique Olympia if he doesn’t already have one. Among those in the lineup are two competitors who faced champion Erin Banks in the 2022 Olympia and sixteen other athletes who want to do the same in 2023. The list of competitors is below in alphabetical order:
2023 Memphis Pro Men’s Physique Show Roster
- Rodney Bond
- Kevin Brown
- Michael Ferguson
- Chance Harper
- Emanual Hunter
- Marvin Jimerson
- Quincy Jordan
- Steven Klaiber
- Benquil Marigny
- Jean-Pierre Marshall
- Dev Maxwell
- Corey Morris
- John Murphy
- Steven Pham
- Kenny Privet
- Khali Quartey
- Sharif Reid
- Tre Trotter
Given the 2023 qualification system for the 2023 Olympia, only the top three from the 2022 Men’s Physique Olympia and previous winners from the division have an invite secured. Other contenders must win a pro show during the 2023 season to qualify.
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Favorites to Watch
Below are three athletes to keep a close watch on as potential podium contenders.
Emanual Hunter
Hunter has momentum on his side thanks to winning at the 2023 Tri-City Classic in Columbus, GA, one week before this contest. So, Hunter has his 2023 Olympia qualification, but winning in Memphis would not only add to his checking account and trophy case but also keep a fellow competitor out of the Olympia. For the 2023 season, only contest winners move on to the Olympia — the qualification doesn’t feed to the runner-up if the winner already has one.
Corey Morris
Morris is making his first appearance of the 2023 season in Memphis. He’s coming off an eighth-place finish at the 2022 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV — four spots ahead of Hunter. That isn’t to say that Morris is guaranteed to finish ahead of Hunter in Tennessee, but if Morris prepared properly for this show, there’s a chance that the judges will compare them side-by-side in the final callout to determine a winner.
Kenny Privet
Privet is the only non-American in this lineup. The Swiss athlete was fifth at the Tri-City Classic — his highest placing in five pro shows thus far in his career. He is in his second full year in the IFBB Pro League, and he’s already been in a first callout in 2023. That could help boost his confidence going into this contest.
Other Notes
Aside from the Men’s Physique Open, there are also Masters Over 35 and Masters Over 45 contests scheduled to be held at this show. This is one of two Men’s Physique shows held on April 8, 2023. The other is the 1 Bro Pro, which will take place in Braywick, England.
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Featured Image: @emanual_31 on Instagram
