When Julius Maddox positions himself under a barbell, the room shifts. Phones come out. Conversations stop. And jaw-dropping feats of strength unfold.
The Owensboro powerhouse — who already holds the world record for the raw bench press — shared a clip with his 455,000 Instagram followers that sent shockwaves through the lifting world.
In the incredible clip, Maddox bench presses 705lbs (340kg) for three clean, paused reps in front of a roaring crowd.
He didn’t need a long caption. Just: “705 x 3 Just a reminder.” Understated, confident, and devastatingly strong.
Fans were quick to flood the comments section in disbelief. “I know the energy in there is heavy. Great work,” wrote one. “Damn that’s raw elite power,” said another.
Others were quick to point out that the lift came with no straps, no sleeves, and with strict pauses — the kind of purity only Maddox can make look casual.
And while the video was recorded in 2023, it’s a clear statement: Julius Maddox is still that guy.
Maddox’s story isn’t just about weight on a bar — it’s about the kind of strength forged far beyond the gym. His path to global recognition came through hardship, redemption, and a raw, unrelenting belief in self-reinvention.
Per Silverback Gymwear, he grew up in a low-income neighbourhood, battling addiction and running into legal trouble from an early age. Jail time, substance abuse, and chaos nearly destroyed him. But when he found the gym, something clicked. Lifting became therapy — a form of control, focus, and purpose.
The bench press became his obsession. And by 2017, Julius Maddox was no longer just rebuilding his life — he was building a legacy.
His rise was meteoric. In 2019, he smashed the American bench press record with 723 pounds (328kg). Later that year, at the Boss of Bosses meet in California, he made history again by pressing 739.6 pounds (335kg) — an official world record that announced to the world that powerlifting had a new king.
He wasn’t done.
At the Arnold Sports Festival in February 2020, Maddox outdid himself once more, locking out 770 pounds (349kg) raw. Then in June 2020, in a special WRPF event, he bench pressed 782.6 pounds (355kg) — extending his own record yet again.
For context: that’s the equivalent of a grand piano… plus a small child… resting on your chest.
Maddox has since made it clear his sights are set even higher — on becoming the first man ever to bench 800 pounds raw.
Beyond his world records, Maddox’s story has resonated far outside the gym. He’s a motivational speaker, an advocate for addiction recovery, and a living example of how physical strength can mirror emotional resilience.
Smart money says it’s just a matter of time before Maddox claims the 800!
Featured image credit: Instagram/@irregular_strength (screenshots)
