{{Short description|American powerlifter (born 1987)}} {{Infobox sportsperson | honorific_prefix = | name = Julius Maddox | honorific_suffix = | image = Julius Maddox.jpg | image_size = <!-- only when absolutely necessary --> | alt = | caption = Maddox in March 2020 | headercolor = | textcolor = <!-- Personal information --> | native_name = | native_name_lang = | birth_name = <!-- if different than name --> | full_name = <!-- if different than name/birth_name --> | nickname = Irregular Strength | nationality = American | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|05|13}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mhpstrong.com/blogs/athletes/julius-maddox|title=Julius Maddox|website=mhpstrong.com|accessdate=28 April 2020}}</ref> | birth_place = Owensboro, Kentucky, United States | death_date = <!-- {{death date and age|death year|death month|death day|birth year|birth month|birth day}} --> | residence = | occupation = | years_active = | height = 6 ft 3 in | weight = 430 - 447lbs | website = {{URL|www.IrregularStrength.com}} }} '''Julius Maddox''' (born 13 May 1987) is an American powerlifter who is the world record holder in the raw bench press.<ref name="srpl">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/powerlifting-world-records/ |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Powerlifting World Records |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref>

==Records== On August 31, 2019, Julius Maddox pressed {{convert|739.6|lb}} with wrist wraps and without a belt, surpassing the {{convert|738.5|lb}} world record of Kirill Sarychev from 2015.<ref name="SI 1039.6">{{cite web |last1=Carroll |first1=Charlotte |title=Kentucky Man Lifts Insane 739.6 Pounds to Break Raw Bench Press World Record |url=https://www.si.com/edge/2019/09/03/kentucky-man-breaks-bench-press-world-record-julius-maddox |website=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="NY Post" />

On November 17, 2019, Maddox pressed {{convert|744.1|lb}} with wrist wraps and without a belt, at the Rob Hall Classic meet, breaking his own world record.<ref name="MF American record">{{cite web |last1=O'Reilly |first1=Anthony |title=Julius Maddox sets American Raw Bench Press Record with {{convert|723|lb}} lift |url=https://www.muscleandfitness.com/athletes-celebrities/news/julius-maddox-sets-american-raw-bench-press-record-723-pound-lift |website=Muscle & Fitness |date=24 June 2019 |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref>

In March 2020, Maddox set the world bench press record at {{convert|770|lb}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fitnessvolt.com/julius-maddox-record-770lb-bench-press/|title=Julius Maddox Sets New 350kg/770lb Bench Press World Record|date=8 March 2020}}</ref> at the Arnold Sports Classic in Columbus, Ohio becoming the first man to bench both 750&nbsp;lb and 350&nbsp;kg.<ref name="srlandmark">{{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/landmark-feats-and-other-records/ |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Landmark Feats and others Records |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref><ref name="MF American record"/> Maddox also holds the official world record for most times bench pressing {{convert|700|lb}} in official powerlifting competition, with 10 times.<ref name="Julius Maddox">{{Cite web|title=Julius Maddox|url=https://www.openpowerlifting.org/u/juliusmaddox|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.openpowerlifting.org}}</ref>

Maddox competes at anywhere from {{convert|440|lb}} to {{convert|460|lb}} bodyweight in recent competition.<ref name="NY Post">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Joshua |title=Massive Kentucky man breaks bench press world record: video |url=https://nypost.com/2019/09/03/massive-kentucky-man-breaks-bench-press-world-record-video/ |website=New York Post |date=3 September 2019 |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Lexington Herald-Leader">{{cite web |last1=Stunson |first1=Mike |title='No one expected this to happen.' Kentucky man breaks world bench press record |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article234633187.html |website=Lexington Herald-Leader |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Julius Maddox"/>

On February 21, 2021, Julius broke another All Time World Record at {{convert|782|lb|1}} at a Ghost Strong meet in Miami Florida. ===Gym lifts=== In February 2020 Maddox benched {{convert|765|lb}} in the gym, sharing it in a post on Instagram. In January 2021, Maddox Benched {{convert|771|lb}} in the gym, unofficially breaking his own world record by {{convert|1|lb}}. In May 2021, Maddox benched {{convert|795|lbs}} during a session.<ref name="Men's Health 765">{{cite web |last1=Shiffer |first1=Emily |title=Julius Maddox Breaks Unofficial World Record with {{convert|765|lb}} Bench Press |url=https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a31094616/julius-maddox-765-pound-bench-press-record/ |website=Men's Health |date=25 February 2020 |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref> His previous best lift in the gym was {{convert|755|lb}}, done in January 2020.<ref name="Men's Health 765" />

Maddox holds multiple unofficial repetition World Records on the bench press, including {{convert|700|lb}} for 3 reps,<ref name="Julius Maddox, 700 x 3 Reps, Raw Bench Press">{{cite web |last1=Bryant |first1=Josh |title=Julius Maddox, 710 x 3 Reps, Raw Bench Press |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxCspMiULM/ |website=YouTube |accessdate=21 April 2020}}</ref> and {{convert|640|lb}} for 7 reps.<ref name="ROAD TO 800! - NEW PR!!!! (290KG) 640LBS X 7!!!!">{{cite web |last1=Maddox |first1=Julius |title=ROAD TO 800! - NEW PR!!!! (290KG) 640LBS X 7!!!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i44dYnm7qUU |website=YouTube |accessdate=21 April 2020}}</ref>

On May 10, 2022, Maddox pressed 796&nbsp;lbs (361&nbsp;kg) in his gym, which is 14&nbsp;lbs above the current world record.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lockridge |first=Roger |date=May 11, 2022 |title=Julius Maddox Bench Presses New PR of 361 Kilograms (796 Pounds) Raw in Training |url=https://barbend.com/julius-maddox-bench-presses-796-pounds-raw/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511181127/https://barbend.com/julius-maddox-bench-presses-796-pounds-raw/ |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |website=BarBend}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Maddox was born and raised in Owensboro, Kentucky, where he still lives with his wife Heaven and their four children. In high school, Maddox was recruited for football by several top Division-1 programs, but faced troubles with drug addiction, depression, and jail time. Because of this, Maddox eventually faced a choice between two 5-year prison sentences or entering a recovery program. Maddox entered the recovery program, where he found a set of weights and began his powerlifting journey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Greg |date=2019-12-19 |title=JULIUS MADDOX: 5 Things to Know |url=https://thebarbell.com/5-things-to-know-about-julius-maddox/ |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}</ref>

Maddox had been lifting for around seven years at the time he set the world bench press record.<ref name="Lexington Herald-Leader" /> Maddox credits lifting weights in helping him overcome his addictions and problems.<ref name="NY Post" /><ref name="M&F">{{cite web |title=From Drug Addiction to Powerlifting, Julius Maddox's Inspiring Story Is Sparking Change |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/fitness/from-drug-addiction-to-powerlifting-julius-maddoxs-inspiring-story-is-sparking-change/ar-BBXZc7y |website=Muscle & Fitness |accessdate=26 February 2020}}</ref>

Maddox has stated that one of his personal inspirations is C. T. Fletcher.<ref name="M&F" /> His progressive goal is to bench press 800&nbsp;lbs. (363&nbsp;kg)<ref name="M&F" />

==See also== * Progression of the bench press world record * List of powerlifters

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maddox, Julius}} Category:American powerlifters Category:American strength athletes Category:Living people Category:1987 births Category:People from Owensboro, Kentucky