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REMATCH AT THE EUROPA SUPER SHOW

Toney Freeman and Dennis James get ready to battle it out again in Dallas

by Allan Donnelly

August 13, 2008

FLEXONLINE.COM

Last Saturday, we were treated to the closest 1-2 finish of the 2008 season when Toney Freeman stormed back from a two-point deficit after the morning prejudging to win the Tampa Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships by three points over Dennis James. One week later, the two are ready to do it again at the Europa Super Show in Dallas, Texas.

On Wednesday, we got Freeman and James together via conference call to get their take on what happened in Tampa, and what's going to happen in Dallas.

WHAT: Europa Super Show
WHERE: Dallas Convention Center, Dallas TX
WHO: Men's Bodybuilding, Under 202-Pound Class, Women's Bodybuilding, Figure, Fitness
PREJUDGING: Friday at 5:30 pm Central
FINALS: Saturday at 1:45 pm Central
FOR MORE INFO: supershowexpo.com

GO HERE FOR COMPLETE COMPETITOR LISTS!

TONEY VS DJ PART II: The Interview

Dennis James: You got me running in and out the gym every day you crazy fool you.

Toney Freeman: Hey dog, I done trained five times since the show!

DJ: Hahaha. Hey why should you feel better than me, right?

TF: I said I know they gonna be coming to get me, I got to get up and go get it.

DJ: Yeah yeah.

FLEX: Looking back on last week's show, obviously was a very very close decision, we all know that now. Did you guys know it was that close, did you have a feeling it was going to come down to the wire?

TF: I know I definitely did. I saw the pictures of Dennis guest posing [one week out at the Dexter Jackson Classic]. And I noticed that he was appearing to be ahead of me as far as conditioning goes. So it motivated me to step my game up. I was like Wow! I gotta get my s--t together. Because I was traveling and he was too, but I was having a little more water issues it seemed like to me.

DJ: I knew it was close because you can tell by the callouts. Everybody knows that when Toney brings his A game he is a very very dangerous man. I saw that he was not at the top of his game when it comes to condition so I figured if I had a chance to catch him it would be that day. But I guess it didn't work out my way. He was still sweating, and I guess he was sweating too much and it kind of got him too hard in the evening, so this is what helped him pull away from me. I gotta give it to him. Having Toney beat me is better than anybody else that was in the show to be honest (Laughs). He actually made me go right back to the gym Sunday morning, which is something that I usually never do. But in order for me to be able to beat him this week I gotta come in four or five pounds fuller again. I dropped a little bit too much weight. And with that fullness comes a little more hardness. It will be a little different Dennis this week.

TF: I was doing legs at like 11:30 that morning. I got up and ate a little breakfast and then went straight to the gym. Then I flew home and did cardio that night and did some glutes when I got home.

FLEX: I know you guys have been through your share of battles. Does anything come to mind for either one of you when you won or lost a show by that close of a margin?

DJ: I always lose shows by close decision. I never won a show by close decision. Like New York last year. I won prejudging, I was leading prejudging by eight points. Then lose by three points. So for me I never believe it until I hear it (Laughs).

TF: Last year in Sacramento, I did like six photo shoots that week and when I got there on Friday I didn't think I would be able to pull it together. And I wasn't as good as I was the week before [at the Ironman] but I edged Silvio out. But it's like football or basketball. I don't care if I win by a three pointer at the buzzer or a field goal or an onside kick, whatever! A W's a W. I know it was super close and I'm glad they picked me, but I wouldn't have felt bad if they had picked him.

DJ: Yeah. Yeah, I would say the same thing Toney. I wouldn't have felt bad if they picked me either! (Laughs)

TF:TF: (Laughs) I know that's right!

FLEX: I'm gonna put you guys on the spot right now. Let's start with you, Toney - looking at the pictures, why was this the right call?

TF: You know, I think the way that they're judging now, they're judging all the way to the end. I know that I improved from morning to night and I guess it was enough in their eyes to give it to me. I don't see an obvious reason why. The sweat was kind of distracting, because it made people think I wasn't in shape. I knew I was in shape.

DJ: No, no, no. Toney I didn't say you weren't in shape when you were sweating. What I meant to ...

TF:No, no, not you.

DJ: What I meant to say when you were sweating, I knew you were gonna get harder.

TF: See I don't. Me personally, I was panicking. Because I didn't understand where the sweat was coming from. I didn't even have any carbs, so how could I be sweating?

DJ: Then try not to panic no more this weekend, OK? Stop sweating.

TF: I was trippin. I was like Man, I don't even sweat like this when I'm training. But I knew I was probably the driest I've been in a long time before I put that glaze on. And as soon as I put it on the water came to the surface. So even before I got on the stage it kind of changed my condition a little bit. I think that's what everybody means when they say when I first walked out I had a little film on me. But that changed from the glaze. It just kept getting worse and worse. When they wiped it off I was dry again. When they put it back on I was wet again. So I can't use that no more. At all.

GO HERE FOR MORE WITH TONEY AND DENNIS!

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