Bodybuilding.com - An Interview With Eddie 'The Punisher' Abbew - A 2007 Iron Man Review.

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I was one-hundred-and-forty-pounds at six-feet-one-inch and had too much sand kicked in my face...

A 3rd place finish at the 2007 Iron Man - Not a bad start for a new season! In the following interview, Eddie discusses this turning point in his pro career and his plans for the rest of the year.

An Interview With Eddie 'The Punisher' Abbew - A 2007 Iron Man Review.

By: David Robson

When England's top pro bodybuilder, Eddie Abbew, began training in 1987, his main goal was to double his bodyweight. At his present height of 6'1", and 140 pounds, Eddie was simply "too skinny". Today he is one of the largest, most muscular men in the world.

At a competitive weight of 270 pounds, and a solid 310 in the off-season, he has smashed his double-bodyweight goal, and now he ranks as one of the best on the planet, having qualified for the 2007 Mr. Olympia with his 3rd place finish at the recent Iron Man Pro.

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Eddie 'The Punisher' Abbew.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Pre-Judging Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Finals Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From The Press Conference Here.

Originally from Ghana, Africa, Eddie has been on the pro scene since 1997, having won the British Championships on his fifth attempt. He has competed in 22 pro shows, but just recently pulled it all together to achieve his career-best 3rd, proving that with age, experience and perseverance comes wisdom and greatness.

In the following interview, Eddie discusses this turning point in his pro career and what plans he has for the remainder of the year.

[ Q ] How does it feel to have achieved a career-best third at the Iron Man Pro?

I am ecstatic and over the moon to have finally placed so well.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Eddie Abbew.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Pre-Judging Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Finals Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From The Press Conference Here.

[ Q ] Were you confident going into this show?

I am never confident going into any show because one never knows the condition the other competitors will be in and it is against my nature to under-estimate people.

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[ Q ] Your 2007 Iron Man Pro physique looked better than ever. Did you do anything differently to prepare for this show?

For the 2006 European Tour and the 2007 Iron Man Pro, I worked with Ernie Taylor, whose metabolism is similar to mine, so my depletion and carbing-up methods were slightly different to my past preparation. I carbed up and ate a lot more food and did this for an extra day.

[ Q ] Once you hit the stage, who did you feel would be your main competition and why?

I felt my main competition for this show were all of the other twenty five competitors and, as such, I refused to learn, prior to the competition, who was competing against me. I stayed off-line for a few weeks so I could focus on what I was doing.

[ Q ] What were your training and nutrition approaches going into the 2007 Iron Man?

I trained legs and back twice a week and my daily carbohydrate intake was about six-hundred-grams. That means I had to incorporate three hours cardio into my daily routine. My rep range also increased and my in-between sets time also was reduced.

[ Q ] What did you do during the last week before this show, training and nutrition-wise?

I reduced my carbohydrate to about two hundred grams for five days and carbed up for three days. My training remained the same.

[ Q ] What gave you the edge and allowed you to placed third, ahead of most of the Iron Man field? What were your main strengths onstage?

I felt I had more separation onstage and was dryer than I usually am. My fullness onstage had also improved.

[ Q ] You have been an IFBB pro for many years now. Do you feel you are now starting to get the respect you deserve or have you simply made some major improvements?

I think I have made improvements to my contest prep regimen. I do not think my physique has improved as such - I am just not making the mistakes I was during previous contest preps.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Lonnie Teper & Eddie Abbew.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Pre-Judging Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From Finals Here.
View More Pics Of Eddie Abbew From The Press Conference Here.

[ Q ] What do you like most about being a pro bodybuilder? What keeps you in the game?

Traveling and meeting all sorts of interesting people all over the world is an incredibly educational incentive. I am also fascinated by how nutrition can drastically change ones appearance. I also like being onstage and entertaining the audience, not necessarily the posing because I rather find posing onstage to be narcissistic.

[ Q ] How did you get started in bodybuilding?

I was one-hundred-and-forty-pounds at six-feet-one-inch and had too much sand kicked in my face-no I am only kidding. I started weight training to help my sprinting at school and realized that I grew muscle at a faster rate than most of my friends. I also enjoyed the sensation I got from lifting weights. I could have easily over-dosed on the pump.

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[ Q ] I could not imagine you at 140-pounds. Now you have doubled your weight, what else do you hope to achieve this year and for the remainder of your bodybuilding career?

I just hope to go to the Olympia and be in the best shape of my life. This will be something to show the grandchildren when I am old and incapable. Also I am not a young man so I take every day as it comes. Right now I am concentrating on short-term goals. I am going home to England to train, eat, sleep and try to improve on what I have and leave the rest to The Lord.

[ Q ] Now you have qualified for the Olympia, how do you feel you will go up against some of the more established competitors?

I have absolutely no expectations. My quest is to present my best conditioning ever. I shall leave the rest to God and the judges.