THE PROS LOCK HORNS
MICHAEL
LOCKETT
On the Pro stage it was an epic battle
between Americans Johnnie Jackson and
Michael Lockett. As the 11-man line-up
at this year's ACA was not the deepest
(no Dexter Jackson or Roelly Winklaar),
Johnnie Jackson swept the field of younger
competitors to collect first prize. It was the
proverbial cherry on top of a Pro career that
began in 2001.
At one point, after the prejudging, Michael
Lockett walked straight to where I was
seated in the auditorium and asked what I
thought of his conditioning. For a second
I was taken aback, but before I could offer
anything remotely intelligible the big man
was swamped by a group of wide-eyed
fans on the hunt for a memorable selfie.
Lockett, one of the most popular and busiest
competitors on the IFBB Pro circuit, obliged
for a minute before exiting the scene with his
question still hanging in the air, unanswered.
It was the surrealist of moments.
If I could somehow travel back in time I
would have told Lockett that he should not
doubt himself and that he had the goods
to go all the way, especially in light of the
fact that Jackson generally struggles to get
his conditioning on point for shows. In the
end, though, Jackson was the man holding
the trophy aloft, but Lockett, in my opinion,
was harder and sharper than the 46-year-
old Texan.
ARNOLD CLASSIC SOUTH AFRICAN PROS
AFRICA
8th place
Earl Abrahams
11th place
Cobus van der Merwe
9th place
Caroly Botha
2017
www.muscleevolution.co.za
91