The Most Underrated Bodybuilders Of All Time 

Francis Benfatto posing routine in the 1990 Olympia......incredible

Roland Cziurlock was really underrated. Monster back.

Damned...Freddie Ortiz had uniquely outstanding biceps! Thanks for mentioning him.

Ed Kawak, Phil Hill, Charles Clairmonte, John Terrili

Forgot Rory leidelmeyer!

So pleased to see the great Rick Wayne and Freddie Ortiz getting some recognition.

You never hear many people talk about JJ Marsh. He was pretty complete, did ok in the early 90's now nobody mentions him

Matt Mendenhall deserves a shoutout here.

I can't believe Bob didn't mention Aaron Baker he was one outstanding bodybuilder

Francis Benfatto is the most underrated of all time in my book. His physique was perfect, his posing was perfect and this was all done naturally and under 200 pounds. The guy deserves our respect. Great video!👍

Kawak had an AWESOME physique..his legs were amazing but so was everything else!

I would add maybe a Pavel Jablonicky

This video was so cool and entertaining. Thanks a lot🙏🏻❤️

We need more videos like this. Highlight some of these pros that get overlooked because of their timing.

Good job love vids like this 👏

Awesome vid man!!!!!!

Benfatto's lat spread @12:06 is the most aesthetic pose ive seen

@Marx max Muscle You're doing a very good job bro, reminding us about all those forgotten bodybuilders who most guy's in here don't know them except the purists of the game lol... Thx.

I can tell you have a lot of respect for the golden era bodybuilders. You break down the era very well.

This might be your best list ever. Blown away by most of these picks

Francis Benfatto was also UNBELIEVABLE as well.

Good job on the video

Aaron'Batman' Baker. Amazing genetics and physique. Never given the recognition he deserved!!

Mike Menzer. Final Answer. He was decades before his time, both in physique & training. He was the truth.

Very fun video! Thanks. I’d throw in a few more from the 80s… Tim Belknap, Rory Leidermeyer and (not sure this counts) Casey Viator (under-appreciated or one of “those who didn’t reach their potential”?)…

love your commentary

Great callouts here!

In no particular order... Rick Wayne, Harold Poole, Leroy Colbert, Phil Hill, Aaron Baker, Nimrod King, Ron Love, Marko Savolainen, Roland Cziurlok, Jim Quinn, Francis Benfatto, Franco Santoriello, Melvin Anthony, Toney Freeman

Lance Dreher looks awesome. Shame about Lionel

So cool hearing you shoutout Joel Thomas dude is a monster and I grew up around him and his brother

What about Gustavo badell and Jean Pierre fux? Also Dennis wolf supper underrated

Good video. I definitely remember many of them but I do believe you missed out on, maybe 2 unbelievable bodies (my opinion of course). Gary Strydom and Aaron Baker

Excellent ✌✌

"Roland Cziurlock" what a great physique ?!!! Great back, tremendous arms and the conditioning !!! I know you didn't mention everyone but here's some underrated dude you didn't mention here like - - - Bertil Fox, Dennis Tinerino, Moses Maldonado, maybe Aaron Baker, Matt Mendenhall...

I met Ron love in the lobby at the 93 Ms Olympia . One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met .

Benfatto didn't do a lot of cardio - even for his comeback. I think AlQ had an injury that essentially ended his career? Maybe tore both quads at the same time... Just as he was getting some heat.

Fun fact about John Brown : has 2 kids who play receiver in the NFL. Talk about them having good genetics

Matt Mendenhal . Edgar Fletcher. Rory Ledelmyer. Jeff King

In that back shot, Roland’s ass is ginormous AND striated. Great job pulling out some gems here!

How rare to do well in the IFBB if you come from another federation. If you *perform poorly* in another federation (politics), it's an embarrassment for the IFBB to place you highly because it implies that the caliber of IFBB athletes is lower. If *you perform well* in another federation and win IFBB shows implies that the caliber of athletes in the other federation are as good, or even better. It's a no win situation.

Good list. Alq was amazing.

Harold Poole...the uncrowned 1966 Mr. Olympia.

I loved bobs video. I even commented on it asking him to do the over rated guys next.

Great video marmammummel

Kawak was just incredible. Could compete in todays 212 and win I beleive

Jeff King..

Can add Thierry Pastel here too. John Sherman placed a close 2nd to Flex Wheeler at a major show around 1992ish.

I found out about John Brown playing football with his kids in high school. I got a job at USC out of college and his youngest son Amon-Ra was starting there as a true freshman. He definitely has his dad's genetics.

You forgot Liver King

Holy hell Roland Cziurlock , what a freak.

Freddie Ortiz is probably the most underrated classic bodybuilder… outstanding aesthics, huge biceps (amazing separation) and a vacuum that rivals Zane!

9:30 Edward Kawak looks like a smaller Nassar with that midsection. 1:1 copy

Where is my friend Mike Mentzer? He was under-rated for both his physique and his method of training. May he and his brother Ray RIP.

It's tough to consider any of the 90s guys you mentioned as underrated given how competitive the lineup was. You are looking through the 90s as if modern occurrences were the norm then too. Keep in mind that many more prominent names competed even in smaller shows, including Dorian. You had stacked lineups outside the AC and Olympia, some Finish and German GPs were basically deglorified Mr.O competitions. The German GP 1996 for example had Dorian, Levrone, Dillet, Taylor, and Nasser as the top 5. To 99% of people, that sound exactly like a potential Mr.O top 5 at that time The smaller shows didn't have lower-end bodybuilders like Andrea Presti, Tonio Burton, Charles Griffen, Blessing Awodibu, etc snagging up wins, just qualifying for the Mr.O meant you were a genetic freak. Add to that the fact that becoming a pro was much harder due to fewer opportunities and you can see why that era is known as the most competitive of all time. If you look at those physiques now, sure they all look like they would be in the top 10 at the 2023 Mr.O, but this was a different era. Tonio Burton is probably going to destroy the New York Pro this weekend, but if he were around when it was still called Night of Champions he would be outside the top 10 in that contest too and wouldn't even qualify for the Mr.O.

Legend has it Kowack took a flight to Birmingham England and bullied a prime Dorian Yates off the Nautilus Pullover in Temple Gym. Legend

7:00 - there’s lower biceps and there’s Lance Dreher.

Haislop had similar physique of Mendenhall.

Tony Freeman is so underrated.

Lionel beyeke might be the most gifted bodybuilder of all time

John Brown!! Very underrated! He's also the father of Detroit Lion wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.

And I agree completely about Beyeke. When he hits the mark, he's top 5 currently.

Believe it or not, Ron Love looks pretty phenomenal still.

I think contestants' all possessed freaky genetics and that's why they could proudly stand on the stage. And as I see it, judging was driven mostly by politics not just physique.

The last one was a what could've been and I hope beastwood doesn't end up like him

Aaron Baker is hands down the most underrated bodybuilder in history. He had everything. Best calves I ever saw and full muscle bellies. Better than Haney and Yates all day.

Lionel is not underrated he just never nailed his conditioning and when he did he placed pretty good

Marko 💪

Wow 😮

Haider was the early 2000’s goat of muscular development and flex magazine. 😂😂😂

what's that john brown shoulder to waist ratio, wow

Again, when you are actually at the show it’s easy to see the difference between these competitors.

I have always thought Freddie Ortiz was incredible and one of the first bodybuilders I remember from the back pages of magazines. I think Rick Wayne has one shot in Pumping Iron? Never under stood why Kawak never placed higher.

How was George Eiferman underrated? He was 1947 Mr. Philadelphia, 1948 Mr. California, 1948 Mr. America, and 1962 Mr. Universe. He’s one of the greatest silver era bodybuilders of all time.

Aaron Baker is the first name I think of for underrated bodybuilders.

Love the j roc

Benfatto best ever❤

When I seen him Next to Lee labrada and Lee beat him I was stunned and went back to rewatch and my lifting buddies and I couldn't believe they picked Lee as well. Some believe because of politics and him being out of the country swayed the judges decision.

Lance Dreher reminds me so much of Peter Mohlner

after this I have to say Lionel Beyeke vs Andrew Jacked would be a crazy comparison I would say Lionel would edge him out with all that muscle maturity

Gary Strydom! Yeah his back wasn't real strong but chest, shoulders, quads and abs were incredible.

You should have included Aaron Baker .

Dennis Wolf too. feel like nobody remembers he was a massive force in the 2010s

DId Freddie bring synthol back in a delaurian????? Whats up with those arms???

Aaron baker, gunter , markhus and chris cormier and the most underrated ever.

Rick Wayne was incredible.

Rory Matt Mendenhall Bertil Fox Vince Taylor Kal

So you’re telling me Freddy Ortiz faced stiff competition after a long career in 69?

Great entertainment thanks Marx, but utterly bonkers! 🤣

What a beautiful voice

Lance dreher and ed kowak stayed at my house when they were in NABBA

Grymkowsky? Clairemonte. Dennis Newman. Orville burke? Baker. Cormier.

🌟👍🌟

Lionel beyeke is not done We wait since years, but i trust him (and you didnt use his best pics😅)

Best abs= Pierre Vandensteen...look him up🙂

I would add muhamad benazziza to this list

Paul Grant and Roger Walker both beat Ken Waller, in my opinion.

Tommi Thorvildsen Very umderated. Geir Borgan Paulsen amazing

Marx secretly roasting these guys! “How many shows did he win? Nada! Never won a single show ”😂😂😂

Bodybuilding is NOT a Sport, it is a BEAUTY CONTEST. That's all!!! The so-called judging criteria is totally subjective. The Weider's paid the Corrupt I.O.C. for years bribes to attempt to have Bodybuilding become an Olympic Sport. NEVER HAPPENED!!! With NO Objective measure to determine a victor, you do NOT have a Sport. As for being athletes, you do NOT have to be an athlete to lift a weight. There is nothing athletic about it. And I have very rarely seen people actually lift weights properly. Just throwing weights around, EGO lifting and GROSS OVER TRAINING. That's why there are so many injuries. And posing is NOT an Athletic activity, it's a Presentation Art Form only. The Weider brothers ran the I.F.B.B. as best they could. They even had a Grand Prix series of Pro Contests. It did NOT work because bodybuilders CANNOT maintain peak conditioning year round. There can only be so few straps to hand out, so lots of competitors will be left out. This video is proof positive. Good as they were, although some of them had poor calves, they simply did NOT make the Top Level Grade. The Weider's were BUSINESS MEN First and foremost. Only the TOP bodybuilders who had the MOST Commercial Potential would win the few straps that existed. The Weider's were also VERY Protective about their Trademark. Outside Bodybuilding Organizations were NOT tolerated. That's why there are so few Mr. Olympias.

Nunn is shame he started too late, cause he was genetic freak- the real Gift, not like Heath the Narrow