Top Amateur Contenders for 2008 are .........

[stuntmovie]

Now might be a good time to forecast the top amateurs who will be most likely to get their IFBB Pro Card during the 2008 competitive year.

Who among the best of the best within the amateur ranks will go for the gold and who among them will fall by the wayside during the competive year - 2008?

Based on my limited observations of this year's Nationals, I pick the following to be the major contenders next year. I only pick four, so feel free to add a few of your own; but do your best to add a photo or two.

My top picks for Pro Cards in 2008 are:
Grigori Atoyan
Peter Putnam
Lee Banks
Brandon Curry

And an additional dangerous forecast - One of the four will fall by the wayside. DOn't know who, but one will do it.

To start - Here's Grigori Atoyan

[stuntmovie]

Peter Putnam

Photo taken at this year's USA Championships .....

[stuntmovie]

Bandon Curry

Photo taken at 2007 USA Championships

Sorry for the blurry shot but I took it. Took the Peter Putnam shot above also.

[timfogarty]

Jose Raymond will win his 5th and 6th pro card in 2008, maybe even his 7th.   (Team U, Masters Nat, Nat).  Dave Candy will win his second.

[duncanlukas]

ur forgetting about jerome ferguson and robert hatch.  theyll probably do the usa next yr i would imagine

[stuntmovie]

Thanks, Tim, but in order to "win a pro card", you have to "accept it". Jose never has and probably never will for personal reasons I guess.

Thanks, Duncan! I know there is a lot more to add to this list so please feel free to add them (I guess you have already) and include a photo or two if you can. If you can't I'll do it when I get some time.

Looking for a Lee Banks photo right now.

[timfogarty]

Thanks, Tim, but in order to "win a pro card", you have to "accept it". Jose never has and probably never will for personal reasons I guess.

he still won the right to turn pro.  that's what win a pro card means.  there is no real card that they hand out at the contests.   and it wasn't given to anyone else.

[stuntmovie]

Lee Banks.

[TooPowerful4u]

My pick goes to that dude, Nun, in the supers from this yrs nationals.  Check him out... genetics are insane, even Phil Heath like, he adds the mass... nobody touches him

[stuntmovie]

Might be pure semantics here, Tim, but to the best of my knowledge he never agreed or accepted to turn IFBB pro and compete among the pros ..... card or no card.

I assume that Jose enjoys competing and thinks that he would not do very well among the pros. Anyone got the facts on that matter?  I think Jose explained it a few times in some of the magazines.

[ironneck]

don't forget the rest of the world...
there are some new pros from the rest of the world

[stuntmovie]

 I should have said Amateur USA bodybuilders, Neck.

Thanks.

I'll do my best to post photos of all the guys you GetBiggers have mentioned above. If anyone can help, it would be appreciated.

[njflex]

he still won the right to turn pro.  that's what win a pro card means.  there is no real card that they hand out at the contests.   and it wasn't given to anyone else.

he should move on,he can win this class every yr ,and if he moves to light heavy to really prove himself then that would be 4 weight class wins.u think he would try it?and the team u thing has to be over ,is he still clean?!!!!!!lol..

[columbusdude82]

Don't forget the Barely Legal Freak

[AllDrugs]

I'd pick Nunn and Putnam to win the 2 cards at the USA's next year if they both do the show.  I also think Nunn has a ton of potential.  I think Putnam is a shoe-in to win one at his next show if he comes in in the shape he was in at the nationals.  Dixon was just too thick for him to overcome.  Both looked like pros.

[timfogarty]

is he still clean?!!!!!!lol..

still?  just as clean as Kai when he won the TU. 

(the rules don't state 'clean on the day of the contest', it states 3 years drug free)

[bigdumbbell]

Might be pure semantics here, Tim, but to the best of my knowledge he never agreed or accepted to turn IFBB pro and compete among the pros ..... card or no card.

I assume that Jose enjoys competing and thinks that he would not do very well among the pros. Anyone got the facts on that matter?  I think Jose explained it a few times in some of the magazines.

i'd like to know why.

[timfogarty]

he should move on,he can win this class every yr ,and if he moves to light heavy to really prove himself then that would be 4 weight class wins.u think he would try it?

if he moves up a weight class, he should add it all to his chest.

[20inch calves]

atoyan looks like he;s get something in that delt..it has an extra head

[JasonH]

atoyan looks like he;s get something in that delt..it has an extra head

Not to mention the strange lump in his left knee.

[njflex]

if he moves up a weight class, he should add it all to his chest.

in all respect he is a great amateur no question,and blew his brother off the map,conditioning is good,legs are great for his size,yeah chest needs thickness,would benefit in the under 210 pro class,move on thats all.lacour at least packed it in when he realized his end ....

[bronxbomber]

i will definitely be working hard to be one of the best in 2008 !!

here i come!

[wes]

I heard Jose is accepting the pro-card this time around and will be competing in the new under 202 pound class in the IFBB.

[Stavios]

My pick goes to that dude, Nun, in the supers from this yrs nationals.  Check him out... genetics are insane, even Phil Heath like, he adds the mass... nobody touches him

who ?

[BuffD]

Lockett and Trey Brewer.  I guarantee one of them will go Pro if not both of them.