Michael Richard Matarazzo (November 8, 1965 – August 16, 2014) was an American IFBB professional

bodybuilder Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses ...

. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Matarazzo, took up boxing after being inspired by Rocky. He turned to bodybuilding and won the first contest he entered: the 1989 Gold's Gym Classic in Massachusetts. He moved to Venice, California, in early 1991, and, in a great surprise, won the USA Championships that year over favorite

Flex Wheeler Kenneth "Flex" Wheeler (born August 23, 1965) is an American retired International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding, bodybuilder. He won the Arnold Classic a then-record four times and was once described by Arnold Schw ...

as well as

Ronnie Coleman Ronald "Ronnie" Dean Coleman (born May 13, 1964) is an American retired professional bodybuilder. The winner of the Mr. Olympia title for eight consecutive years, he is widely regarded as either the greatest bodybuilder of all time or one of th ...

and

Chris Cormier Broderick Christopher Cormier (born August 19, 1967), known as Chris Cormier, is a retired American bodybuilder who competed in the IFBB. Biography He was born in Palm Springs, California. In 1984, he placed 4th in the 167 pound weight group at ...

. It was only his second bodybuilding contest, and it earned 25-year-old Matarazzo the right to turn pro. He also competed for the first time in the Mr. Olympia contest in 1991. Known primarily for his massive arms and calves, his best placing in the Mr. Olympia competition (out of seven total appearances) was 9th, in 1998. Matarazzo's last appearance in a professional bodybuilding event was the 2001 Mr. Olympia, where he placed 21st. He was forced to retire due to having open heart surgery on December 8, 2004 for clogged arteries. On November 8, 2007, Matarazzo suffered a heart attack, his second cardiac-related problem since his 2004 surgery. On August 3, 2014, Matarazzo was in the intensive care unit of Stanford hospital in

Palo Alto Palo Alto (; Spanish for "tall stick") is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. The city was es ...

due to heart complications. He died on August 16 while awaiting a heart transplant. At the time of his death he was residing in Modesto, California, and had been forced to stop working as a bail bondsman due to his 20% heart function.FrankTheTank.http://muscleweek.com/board/index.php?topic=1100.0

Contest history

* 1989 Gold's Gym Classic, 1st * 1991

NPC USA Championships NPC may stand for: Science and medicine Computing * Network Parameter Control in computer networks * Non-deterministic polynomial-time complete * Non-printing character * Non-player character Electronics * Neutral Point Clamped, an inverter top ...

, Heavyweight, 1st and Overall *

1991 Mr. Olympia The 1991 Mr. Olympia contest was an IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held in September 14, 1991 in Orlando, Florida. The score was tied after prejudging between Dorian Yates Dorian Andrew Mientjez Yates (born 19 April 1962) is an Eng ...

, 16th * 1992

Arnold Classic The IFBB Arnold Sports Festival, also known as the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival, is an annual multi-sport event consisting of professional bodybuilding (''Arnold Classic''), strongman ('' Arnold Strongman Classic''), fitness, figure ...

, 15th * 1992 Ironman Pro Invitational, 5th * 1993 Marissa Classic, 6th * 1993 Night of Champions, 8th *

1993 Mr. Olympia The 1993 Mr. Olympia contest was an International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held on September 11, 1993, at the Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Results The total prize mo ...

, 18th * 1993 Pittsburgh Pro Invitational, 2nd * 1994 Arnold Classic, 9th * 1994 San Jose Pro Invitational, 8th * 1995 Florida Pro Invitational, 7th * 1995 South Beach Pro Invitational, 7th * 1996 Grand Prix Czech Republic, 9th * 1996 Grand Prix Russia, 9th * 1996 Grand Prix Switzerland, 9th * 1996 Night of Champions, 5th * 1996 Mr. Olympia, 13th * 1997 Canada Pro Cup, 2nd * 1997 Grand Prix Germany, 11th * 1997 Grand Prix Hungary, 10th * 1997 Grand Prix Spain, 10th * 1997 Night of Champions, 4th *

1997 Mr. Olympia The 1997 Mr. Olympia contest was an IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held on September 20, 1997, at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California. Results Total prize amount awarded was $285,000. Notable events *Dorian Yates won hi ...

, 13th * 1997 Toronto Pro Invitational, 2nd * 1998 Night of Champions, 3rd *

1998 Mr. Olympia The 1998 Mr. Olympia contest was an IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held on October 10, 1998, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Results The total prize money awarded was $300,000. Notable events *Dorian Yates, wh ...

, 9th * 1998 San Francisco Pro Invitational, 7th * 1998 Toronto Pro Invitational, 3rd *

1999 Mr. Olympia The 1999 Mr. Olympia contest was an International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held October 21–24, 1999 at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas, Nevada. Results The total prize money aw ...

, 11th * 2000 Night of Champions, 18th * 2000 Toronto Pro Invitational, 6th * 2001 Night of Champions, 5th *

2001 Mr. Olympia The 2001 Mr. Olympia contest was an International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding competition held October 26–28, 2001 at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas, Nevada. Results The total prize money a ...

, 21st

References

External links

Muscle & Fitness: Remembering Mike Matarazzo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matarazzo, Mike 1965 births 2014 deaths Professional bodybuilders

Contest history

See also

References

External links