|
Post by Eric Roussin on Jan 12, 2010 22:43:21 GMT -5
As far as I know, prior to 2006 no one was compiling world rankings. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to try to see who would have likely ever been recognized as the number one ranked right handed armwrestler in the world at any point in time (unlimited weight). Here's what I've come up with from sifting through results and video. I'd like the armwrestling historians out there to share their feedback.
1967 - Dwayne "Tiny" Benedix 1968 - Dwayne "Tiny" Benedix 1969 - Dwayne "Tiny" Benedix 1970 - Jim Dolcini 1971 - Jim Dolcini 1972 - Moe Baker 1973 - Bill Harrison 1974 - Jim Dolcini 1975 - Jim Dolcini 1976 - Virgil Arciero 1977 - Virgil Arciero 1978 - Cleve Dean 1979 - Cleve Dean 1980 - Cleve Dean/Virgil Arciero 1981 - Cleve Dean 1982 - Cleve Dean/Virgil Arciero 1983 - Cleve Dean 1984 - Cleve Dean 1985 - Cleve Dean 1986 - Cleve Dean/Scott Norton 1987 - John Brzenk 1988 - John Brzenk 1989 - John Brzenk/Richard Lupkes 1990 - John Brzenk 1991 - John Brzenk 1992 - John Brzenk 1993 - John Brzenk 1994 - John Brzenk/Cleve Dean/Gary Goodridge 1995 - Gary Goodridge 1996 - Gary Goodridge 1997 - Gary Goodridge/John Brzenk 1998 - Alan Karaev 1999 - John Brzenk 2000 - John Brzenk 2001 - John Brzenk 2002 - John Brzenk 2003 - John Brzenk 2004 - Alexey Voevoda 2005 - Matt Girdner/Travis Bagent 2006 - John Brzenk 2007 - John Brzenk 2008 - John Brzenk/Devon Larratt 2009 - Devon Larratt 2010 - Devon Larratt
It's important to note that prior to the 1990's the sport was just in its infancy outside of North America, so many of the early names are based on the Petaluma World Championships (which were recognized as the most important event well into the '80s).
|
|
|
Post by Chris Kaufman on Jan 12, 2010 22:56:14 GMT -5
I don't know much about the old school pullers, but shouldn't Johnny Walker be in there somewhere?
|
|
|
Post by Eric Roussin on Jan 12, 2010 22:59:30 GMT -5
Definitely in his weight class. I don't know that he ever competed in the heavyweight class, so I don't know if he would have beaten pullers like Cleve Dean.
|
|
|
Post by Chris Kaufman on Jan 12, 2010 23:01:37 GMT -5
Definitely in his weight class. I don't know that he ever competed in the heavyweight class, so I don't know if he would have beaten pullers like Cleve Dean. Yeah I just thought of that after I posted that. I wasn't sure what years Johnny was dominate. Great list Eric!!
|
|
|
Post by Eric Roussin on Jan 12, 2010 23:09:26 GMT -5
Johnny was most dominant in the '80s.
|
|
|
Post by Josh Handeland on Jan 13, 2010 2:29:31 GMT -5
I know that Johnny beat Scott Norton at least once (read it on the ask John Brzenk webpages). idk what year it was though. The list looks great to my knowledge, is there any video of Dwayne "Tiny" Benedix?
|
|
|
Post by Eric Roussin on Jan 13, 2010 9:24:19 GMT -5
ArmTV has video of the 1969 Petaluma World Championships in which Tiny Benedix wins his second World title in a row.
I forgot how great of a year Ferit had in 2005. In the shape he was in at the Vegas event, I think he could have possibly won the super heavyweight class had he decided to pull it that day.
I included Gary Goodridge for 1997 because I know he competed as late as May of that year in a cash tournament in Montreal. He easily won beating pullers such as Jerry Cadorette. I think this may have been his last tournament before his layoff.
|
|