Yeah, I, too, witnessed Johnson weight train when at his peak ... The lifts you claim were indeed performed, but NOT in any way, shape or form to any acceptable standard. His squats were quarter reps, at best, and his presses were horrific.
Anyway ...
Anyone who believe Tyson benched 500, legit, has never pressed 315, legit.
Fuck me
"Acceptable standard" - we can debate that all day, I won't.
Having seen some powerlifters do it in the fancy suits and the way they push and prod on the bench, it doesn't take anything away from the lifts of these world class athletes. They did it with nothing but a belt. It's rather ironic seeing the fat whales in power suits pull and prod on the bench press until they touch the barbell to their belly button (who really performs a bench like that. try that and your shoulders will come apart, if not for the suit), only to raise it back up a few inches. Only real lifts are raw lifts - with nothing but a belt.
When performing 500lb+ squats Johnson always used a bench and a spotter. He also trained at the university i went to and the local gym. This was post his prime years. He's bench press was done clean and with full range of motion.
As to Tyson, he focused too on the fast twitch muscles just like Johnson. However, he performed the movements in a even more explosive fashion. Remember, they weren't training to be powerlifters, but being a world class sprinter and a boxer.
"Anyone who believe Tyson benched 500, legit, has never pressed 315, legit".I can press just a little more than 315lb for 1RM, doesn't say anything for anyone that they are not doing a "legit" bench or have never done one. Your point is negated therefore. We have a lot of strong individuals here that can play around with the 3 plates on the BP, whereas they lack in the other power movements i.e. squat/deadlift. Everyone has a niche. I can play around with 4 plates+ on the deadlift and squat and can't do shit on the bench, that doesn't take anything away from someone legitimately doing a certain number for 1RM.
Truth is often exaggerated, that is just part of the game. Liars are a dime a dozen. Maybe he really rounded off his 450lb bench to 500lb. 450 is not too shabby either. Having seen Johnson, he could have easily done around 420-440lb for 1rm.
