Who is Mike Matarazzo?
Mike Matarazzo was a dedicated bodybuilder who was known for his strong arms and calves. He was raised in a working-class family and turned to driving trucks as a means of support.
Mike Matarazzo, on the other hand, trained tirelessly to become a bodybuilding legend after deciding to follow his passion. He has received tributes from some of the finest bodybuilders in history and has inspired many athletes.
Body Measurements of Mike Matarazzo
| Full Name: | Mike Matarazzo |
| ALIAS: | Big Guns |
| ERA: | 1980, 1990, and 2000 |
| PROFESSION: | Professional Bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | Italian-American |
| WEIGHT: | 255 – 265lbs (115.7 – 120.2kg) |
| HEIGHT: | 5’10” (177.5cm) |
Accomplishments
Boxing
- 1985 Massachusetts Golden Gloves light-heavyweight champion
Competition History
- 1989 Gold’s Gym Classic, 1st
- 1991 NPC USA Championships, Heavyweight, 1st, and Overall
- 1991 Mr. Olympia, 16th
- 1992 Arnold Classic, 15th
- 1992 Ironman Pro Invitational, 5th
- 1993 Marissa Classic, 6th
- 1993 Night of Champions, 8th
- 1993 Mr. Olympia, 18th
- 1993 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational, 2nd
- 1994 Arnold Classic, 9th
- 1994 San Jose Pro Invitational, 8th
- 1995 Florida Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1995 South Beach Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1996 Grand Prix Czech Republic, 9th
- 1996 Grand Prix Russia, 9th
- 1996 Grand Prix Switzerland, 9th
- 1996 Night of Champions, 5th
- 1996 Mr. Olympia, 13th
- 1997 Canada Pro Cup, 2nd
- 1997 Grand Prix Germany, 11th
- 1997 Grand Prix Hungary, 10th
- 1997 Grand Prix Spain, 10th
- 1997 Night of Champions, 4th
- 1997 Mr. Olympia, 13th
- 1997 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd
- 1998 Night of Champions, 3rd
- 1998 Mr. Olympia, 9th
- 1998 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 7th
- 1998 Toronto Pro Invitational, 3rd
- 1999 Mr. Olympia, 11th
- 2000 Night of Champions, 18th
- 2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, 6th
- 2001 Night of Champions, 5th
- 2001 Mr. Olympia, 21st
Biography
Young Years
Mike Matarazzo was born and reared in Boston, Massachusetts (USA), in a working-class household. He got determined to build a reputation for himself after learning the value of hard work, but as a child, he wasn’t sure what career to choose.
After completing high school, Mike started working as a truck driver to support himself. But he rapidly grew dissatisfied with his line of work and started seeking a “way out.”
Boxing
Mike decided to take up boxing after becoming inspired by the fictional figure “Rocky Balboa.” At the age of 24, Mike became the 1985 Massachusetts Golden Gloves light-heavyweight champion after years of devoted training in the ring.
He had developed a slim, attractive physique as a result of the strenuous nature of boxing. Mike felt good about the way he looked and was inspired to keep working out.
Bodybuilding
Although Mike had achieved success as a boxer, he fell in love with lifting weights at the gym. He switched his focus to bodybuilding after growing weary of the brutality of boxing.
Mike wasted little time pursuing his goal and devoted his time to developing the body of his dreams.
Inaugural Competition
Mike didn’t take long to grow in size and get a chiseled frame. Mike competed in his first competition in 1989, the Gold’s Gym Classic in Massachusetts, after being inspired by his training companions.
Mike, who is 5’10” and weighs 226 pounds, was much taller than his rivals. He made an impression on the judges, and his efforts were recognized with a first-place trophy.
But that wasn’t all; Mike also won the competition as a whole. He was inspired by his successful debut and knew he could become a well-known bodybuilder.
Depart for California
Riding the high of his accomplishment, Mike gave the sport his all. He relocated to Venice, California (USA), where the finest bodybuilders trained when he was 26 years old.
There were several of his heroes who resided there, including Mike Katz, Frank Zane, Lou Ferrigno, Sergio Oliva, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
He was determined to meet them all. He was drawn to the bodybuilders after observing their dedication to their craft in the gym.
Mike joined the renowned California Gold’s Gym and the fitness world with ease. He received the training he required to be successful in the business from bodybuilders like Flex Wheeler and Shawn Ray.
Card Pro
Mike competed in the heavyweight division of the 1991 NPC USA Championships that same year. No one anticipated that the newcomer to the sport, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Ronnie Coleman, would perform well in this competition.
Mike, who had put a lot of effort into developing a strong physique, seized the chance. Even though he concluded the evening as the 1991 NPC USA Champion, there was more.
Mike had exceeded all expectations by taking first place and earning his Pro Card. Mike had achieved his goal of becoming a professional bodybuilder at the age of 26.
Making Legends
Mike competed in a whopping 32 events over the following 10 years, including 7 illustrious Mr. Olympia appearances.
Mike failed to repeat his early success, yet he consistently earned top rankings in competitions. He was revered as a sporting legend by 2001, noted for his excellent body and “blue collar” hard ethic.
Retirement
Mike Matarazzo, who was 36 at the time, retired in 2001 due to deteriorating health. He had excessive cholesterol and attributed his poor health to eating a lot of red meat daily.
The legendary athlete for fitness also cited his abuse of steroids as a factor in his demise:
“Away [the medicines]. Only a small number of men on our earth can barely support themselves through bodybuilding. I was one of them that did it for 15 years, but I probably wasted 20 of my life doing it.
That is not worth any amount of money in the world. If I could turn the clock back, I’d choose to work a nine-to-five job and live a long life like my grandfather. I gambled and came up empty-handed.
Tributes
On November 14, 2014, Mike passed away following a string of heart attacks. However, he left a lasting impression on the sport, motivating a huge number of players to start lifting weights.
Some of the best bodybuilders in history, including Lou Ferrigno, Berry Dewey, Samir Bannout, and Ronnie Coleman, paid him honor.
When we competed against one another early in my career, Mike frequently defeated me, according to Ronnie Coleman.
He was that guy who always had you laughing because he just seemed to love the sport and the people. He will be dearly missed. I adore you, Mike, and I will miss you terribly. Peace be with you, my brother.
Training
Mike, who was known for his work ethic, put in a lot of effort in the gym. He would work out six days a week, taking one day off to rest and recover.
He loved working out on his calves and biceps, which were both very big.
Bicep exercise
Mike’s bicep workout looked like this:
- Cambered-bar preacher curls – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Seated alternate dumbbell curls – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Concentration curls – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Sideways one-arm dumbbell preacher curls – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
- Reverse cambered-bar preacher curls – 4 sets of 10-12 reps
“Larry Scott told me about sideways one-arm dumbbell preacher curls when I first turned pro. I tried them, got tremendous results, and I’ve been using them ever since.”
Calves Typical
Mike worked his calves quickly but effectively.
- Standing Calf Raise – 4 sets of 10-13 reps
- Seated Calf Raise – 4 sets of 10-13 reps
Nutrition
Mike ate six to eight meals a day to provide his body with the nourishment it needed to grow.
However, he acknowledged that his diet wasn’t well-planned and might have contributed to his health deterioration. Mike was known to consume up to 7 pounds of red meat each day, without any accompanying vegetables or fruits.
“I didn’t eat any vegetables; I ate five, six, or seven pounds of red meat every day to gain weight. Fruits would also be avoided due to their sugar content.
Influences and Idols
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Sergio Oliva, Dave Draper, Mike Katz, and Frank Zane were just a few of Mike’s many inspirations in the sport, who were all from the golden age.
The legend also cited Flex Wheeler, Shawn Ray, Ronnie Coleman, and Chris Cormier as opponents who inspired him to advance.
What Mike Matarazzo Can Teach Us?
Mike Matarazzo has shown us that, with the correct work ethic, anyone can achieve their goals. He started as a truck driver who was just trying to make ends meet before following his dream of becoming a bodybuilding legend.
Don’t be afraid to go after your goals. Once Mike decided to pursue bodybuilding, he lost little time in moving to California to train at the renowned Gold’s Gym.