Tag: nEWS
Michael Boyle on Natural Bodybuilding Future: “Time to Improve”
Michael Boyle plans to win the Master’s division at Natural Olympia.
Michael Boyle is a two-time natural bodybuilding British champion – United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association (UKDFBA) 2020 and 2021 – who has high hopes for the future. He finished third in the Master’s class at Natural Olympia 2021. In an Instagram (IG) post, Boyle stated:
“The @inbapnbaglobal_official Olympia pics are in. I know where I need to improve and the goal has been set. Can’t wait till I’m back at peak strength lifting heavy and building more tissue. It’s been an awesome season. One that I will never forget. Time to improve!!!”
You can see the full post below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW3tgFlLgb_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
With the work Michael Boyle plans to do, he believes it will be enough to secure a first-place victory in Men’s Bodybuilding Master’s at Natural Olympia.
In an IG post published on Nov 17, 2021, Boyle said:
“36 weeks of diet come to an end and what an end to the season. It’s time to go off season and get fluffy. ? Can’t wait to get them heavy dead’s back in. Operation top masters pro spot in a couple of years ? xxxxxx
Michael Boyle isn’t the only competitor that believes there is room to grow. The 2021 Natural Olympia Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Master’s winner, Philip Ricardo Jr., also believes there’s work to be done.
Road to Natural Olympia
Although there are many natural bodybuilding events throughout the year, each competitor’s primary goal is to earn a spot at Natural Olympia – The Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding. It’s the biggest event of the year for natural bodybuilders, and it’s equivalent to Mr. Olympia if you’re familiar with the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB).
Generation Iron was reporting the 2021 Natural Olympia, and we had a camera crew on the ground recording key moments. You can watch a full breakdown of the 2021 Natural Olympia below:
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To compete professionally in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association INBA/PNBA – most major natural bodybuilding league – league, you’ll have to win the Overall in an Open’s or Master’s category.
Now, you can start entering INBA/PNBA competitions to earn your stripes to quality for Natural Olympia. To qualify for Natural Olympia, athletes with a pro card need to compete in at least one PNBA show. However, champions of the previous year, such as Paul Krueger – Mr. Natural Olympia – and Hall of Fame Inductees (not Hall of Shame inductees), receive a “Golden Ticket” – automatic entry.
Below is a full schedule for the initial 2022 INBA/PNBA season.
Training and Coach
Michael Boyle focuses on lifting heavy weights and high reps on significant compound movements to prep for the years to come. Below is a video of him deadlifting.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXHDK5rAiNW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Boyle is also a coach and helps men and women reach their fitness goals and sustain them at MTB Total Fitness. He has over ten years of experience in the fitness industry and a background in Muy Thai and swimming.
Generation Iron would like to congratulate Michael Boyle on his third-place finish at 2021 Natural Olympia and wish him the best of luck in his endeavors in the future!
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Amateur Bodybuilder Testifies Jussie Smollett Wanted Him To “Fake Beat Him Up”
Bodybuilder Abimbola Osundairo testified Wednesday that Jussie Smollett arranged for fake attack.
Abimbola Osundairo is one of two bodybuilding brothers who were involved in the felony fraud case surrounding the fake attack on Jussie Smollett. On Wednesday, Osundairo testified that the “Empire” actor called to them to beat him up.
Osundairo, who is an aspiring actor himself, was told by Smollett that he could further his career.
“I believed he could help further my acting career,” Osundairo testified. “He told me that we would need another person to fake beat him up. He mentioned could my brother do it. I said yes.”
“I was confused,” Osundairo continued to testify. “Then he explained he wanted me to fake beat him up.”
Osundairo and his brother, Olabinjo, are fitness trainers that have known Jussie Smollett for several years. He claimed that the actor planned to have the brothers attack him and paid each $3,500, which was made out to seem like it was for training and nutritional services.
Despite the money, Osundairo admitted that he would have done the job for free, referencing the relationship that the two have had over the years. When asked about the ringleader for the incident, Osundairo admitted that Smollett was the brains behind the encounter.
“”We went over the details of what he wanted us to say and do.”
“He wants me to attack him, but he wanted me to pull the punch so I don’t hurt him, give him a bruise.” The final part of the plan would be to “pour bleach on him and then he would run away.”
Osundairo then said that Jussie Smollett wanted the footage of the attack for media. Prior to the fake attack, the two talked via Instagram message to remain updated. Smollett was on a delayed flight to Chicago and this forced the alleged attack to be pushed back.
Once it happened, the Osundairo brothers left for Nigeria, when Smollett kept contacting and checking on their status.
Court adjourned at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night but Osundairo was still on the stand. He was not crossed-examined that night.
Olabinjo Osundairo testified on Thursday morning and his story echoed that of his brother. Olabinjo confirmed that Smollett wanted to have bleach poured over him and a noose put around his neck. The actor gave the bodybuilding brothers $100 in order to pick up supplies for the attack.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley Rematch Confirmed, Tommy Fury Out With Injury
Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley will fight once again after Tommy Fury pulls out with an injury.
A rematch between Jake Paul and Tyron Woodley is all set and not in the way many might have imagined. Tommy Fury has backed out of his upcoming fight that was scheduled against Paul and Woodley will not step in.
The bout between Paul and Fury was all set for Dec. 18 in Tampa. Apparently Fury, who is the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, had to pull out due to an injury. It was confirmed by both Paul and Woodley that there will be a rematch instead.
“When my team woke me up on Friday to tell me Tommy Fumbles was pulling out, I told them I’ll fight anyone on December 18th. Troy, Trey, Trevor, Travis,… I don’t give a fuck who it is,” Paul wrote on Instagram.
Jake Paul continued to explain that Tyron Woodley would get an extra $500,000 if he is able to win by knockout. Paul is confident in his ability and believes that this fight will be easier than the first.
“First time I outboxed him. This time I’m gonna punish him and leave no doubt. #PaulWoodley @showtimeboxing@mostvaluablepromotions“
In their first meeting, Paul defeated Woodley by split decision. He is looking for redemption in what will not be a much-anticipated night of boxing.
“The hand off he fumbled, but i scooped it back up! It pay$ to #STAYREADY #PaulWoodley II“Leave No Doubt”
Saturday December 18th live on pay-per-view
@mostvaluablepromotions@showtimeboxing@jakepaul“
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Ryan Terry: There Should Be A Weight Limit On The Men’s Physique Division
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Ryan Terry muses that a weight limit on Men’s Physique would help prevent physiques from growing bigger each year.
In a previous interview segment, Ryan Terry lamented the way Men’s Physique has changed over the past decade. Specifically, he believes that the physiques have gotten larger with each year – and it’s starting to look less like the original goal of the division. With the relatively recent introduction of Classic Physique, Terry believes the divide between Men’s Physique and Classic Physique is shrinking. His solution? Add a weight limit system to Men’s Physique similar to Classic. Ryan Terry discusses why he believes a weight cap on Men’s Physique would benefit the future of the division in our latest GI Exclusive interview.
Early into our conversation, Ryan Terry admits he may be a bit biased on his opinions of the direction Men’s Physique is moving towards. Terry sees himself as a smaller sized athlete in his division – and he believes that Men’s Physique as a whole has gotten too large. But in trying to be as objective as possible, Terry worries that Men’s Physique is growing too large in comparison to where the division started.
Classic Physique is a relatively new division that was introduced in late 2016. It was an answer to many fans worrying that Men’s Open has gotten too large compared to the Golden Era of the sport. This new division imposes weight limits based on height to ensure the physiques cannot grow too large. This kind of strategy is attractive to Ryan Terry. He believes that if Men’s Physique adapted to this ruleset (but on a smaller size scale), it would help prevent the division from losing sight of it’s original vision.
It’s almost inevitable that every division’s physiques grows in size over time. As each athlete tries to one up each other, they push the boundaries of size while trying to still match the aesthetic of the division. Over time, the slow change shifts the bar of expectation for judges and fans. Suddenly, a decade later, the physiques of a division look completely different.
This happened to Men’s Open – which is why slowly over time new divisions such as Men’s 212 and Classic Physique entered the sport. But now with so many divisions, Ryan Terry worries that Men’s Physique will start to look too close to Classic Physique. In his opinion, changing the Men’s Physique rules to include a weight limit based on height will fix this problem.
Of course, there are already other factors in place to differentiate Men’s Physique from other divisions. The board shorts change the overall areas that judges look at for scoring. Also the posing rounds are different. A big part of Men’s Physique posing is a “natural standing” pose – as opposed to the more showy mandatory poses found in Classic Physique and above. While seemingly small these are vital differences.
Does Men’s Physique need a change? Is the division growing too large in terms of physique size? Watch Ryan Terry’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive segment above and then decide for yourself!
Conor McGregor Looks Shredded At 190 Pounds In Recent Photo
Conor McGregor has put on size while recovering from an injury.
When you think of UFC, the first name that comes to mind is Conor McGregor. The Notorious became the first fighter to hold championships in two different divisions at once. This came after a victory over Eddie Alvarez back in September of 2016. Five years later, some have forgotten the accomplishments and wrote off McGregor.
In July, McGregor suffered a broken leg in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Since then, the former champion has been hitting the gym hard and has put on some serious muscle. McGregor is active on social media showing different workouts and physique updates. In a recent one, he is looking shredded at 190 pounds.
This is the heaviest that Conor McGregor has been in the offseason. He is used to cutting down to 145 pounds. In 2016, he made a jump from 155 pounds to 170. This is significantly lighter than his current weight. McGregor has been performing some big muscle-building exercises and following a FAST program. This is a training regimen developed by exercise physiologist Dr. Julian Dalby.
FAST is a program that is broken down in different ways. The three major categories are endurance, functional speed, and power and speed. Along with this training program, McGregor has continued to put on plenty of muscle.
This is in an attempt to make a return to the ring. The 33-year-old fighter has not announced a return but his recent training makes it seem like he is going to make a return to avenge his last loss. Fans of the UFC have written off McGregor a bit after his most recent loss and injury. Why? There are some reasons that have been floating around but overall drive could be one of them.
Conor McGregor is not just a UFC fighter. He is an international superstar and an incredibly successful businessman. He recently sold his shared of Proper Twelve Whiskey in a deal that could be worth up to $600 million. McGregor will continue to be the spokesman and face of the company. He also recently opened The Black Forge Inn in Dublin. Income is certainly not an issue for McGregor and this could be a reason fans believe he lost his edge.
When looking at his overall work in the gym recently, this does not seem factual. McGregor has been hard at work to build a physique and overall endurance level that is back to where he was prior to the injury.
With that being said, McGregor continues to be one of the biggest names in UFC and seems as determined as ever. When he makes is return to the ring, there will be a new chip on his shoulder to prove his doubters wrong. For all of those critics who believe he lost a step, there will be plenty to watch soon enough.
Gervonta Davis vs Isaac Cruz Results
Who won the battle between Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz?
What happens when an unstoppable force runs into an immovable object? It’s an age old question that has intrigued humans for as we could remember. It’s what makes sporting events so intriguing. Why we love movies like the Rocky series. And it’s exactly the same question that will be answered when Gervonta Davis battles Isaac Cruz.
The WBA lightweight champion, Gervonta Davis has been an impressive force since beginning his boxing journey. He is a powerhouse puncher with the kind of devastating hands that can separate anyone from their consciousness. You only have to see his crushing knockout of Leo Santa Cruz to understand how incredibly dangerous Davis is.
In his second defense of his WBA lightweight title, Gervonta Davis is pitted against Isaac Cruz. Cruz’s hard nosed, come forward style is certainly fan pleasing. It should also pose some interesting problems for Davis to solve inside the twelve round distance.
Both boxers are proud men, ready to put everything on the line for victory. The two almost came to blows at the weigh ins and it certainly sparked even more interest in the fight.
Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz went to war! When the dust settled Gervonta Davis defeated Isaac Cruz by unanimous decision in a competitive, close fight.
Did you tune into the battle between Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow Results
Here are the results from the Toronto Pro Supershow!
The 2021 Toronto Pro Supershow took place over the weekend with victors earning qualification to the 2022 Olympia. Competitors from 10 divisions gathered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to put on an exciting show.
The Men’s Open division was the highlight of the show. Quinton Eriya entered the show as one of the competitors to watch. He is one of two returning competitors from this show back in 2019. The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but fans were excited to have Canada’s biggest show back once again.
Joseph Seeman is the other returning competitor. He finished fourth at the competition and was looking to make another impact. Seeman has been making improvements over the last two years and has a physique that can compete in certain shows. Joel Thomas and Victor Rea Cano also entered as dark-horse competitors to win the division.
There were a total of 10 divisions that show winners gain qualification to the Olympia. The full results have been announced from the event. Checkout the full results from the show including the official score cards!
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow: All Division Results
Men’s Open: Joel Thomas
Classic Physique: Anthony Casado
Men’s 212: Douglas Connor
Men’s Physique: Davide Mazzolari
Women’s Bodybuilding: MayLa Ash
Women’s Physique: Ivie Rhein
Figure: Angelita Lopez
Fitness: Andrea Glass
Bikini: Danielle Phelps
Wellness: Kassandra Gillis
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow Breakdown
Men’s Open
First Place – Joel Thomas
Second Place – Quinton Eriya
Third Place – Joe Seeman
Fourth Place – Eiren Gauley
Fifth Place – Stan de Longeaux
Sixth Place – Carlos Longoria
Classic Physique
First Place – Anthony Casado
Second Place – Roman Ramassamy
Third Place – Romane Haye
Fourth Place – Blake Course
Fifth Place – Duqann Hinton
Sixth Place – Soo Min Yoon
Men’s 212
First Place – Douglas Connor
Second Place – Adolph Quoida
Third Place – David Henry
Fourth Place – Stephanie Didoshock
Fifth Place – Murat Gonul
Sixth Place – Luis Santa
Men’s Physique
First Place – Davide Mazzolari
Second Place – Sharif Reid
Third Place – Ikenna Amaliri
Fourth Place – Evan Kanu
Fifth Place – Charles Paquette
Sixth Place – Zheyu Zhang
Women’s Bodybuilding
First Place – MayLa Ash
Second Place – Lisa Kudrey
Third Place – Michelle Jin
Fourth Place – Tananarive Huie
Women’s Physique
First Place – Ivie Rhein
Second Place – Alexis Sullivan
Third Place – Lisa McLean
Fourth Place – Maria Redman
Fifth Place – Eve Gagnon
Sixth Place – Nathalee Thompson
Figure
First Place – Angelita Lopez
Second Place – Maryam Bamdad
Third Place – Katerina Aninao
Fourth Place – Tereza Linhartova
Fifth Place – Her Eun
Sixth Place – Rachel Killan
Fitness
First Place – Andrea Glass
Second Place – Abby Bolton
Third Place – Daniella DaCosta
Fourth Place – Corina Harkelorad
Fifth Place – Terra Plum
Sixth Place – Maria Laura Cerbelli
Bikini
First Place – Danielle Phelps
Second Place – Adair Libbrecht
Third Place – Karen Wall
Fourth Place – Diane Brunet
Fifth Place – Laura Ziv
Sixth Place – Julia Schroeder
Wellness
First Place – Kassandra Gillis
Second Place – Celeste Morales
Third Place – Emily Azzarello
Fourth Place – Alexis Rosalia
Fifth Place – Brooke Donnelly
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Toronto Pro Supershow. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
10 Surprising Things That Can Cause Dehydration
Hydration is the number one building block for good fitness.
Dehydration is the enemy of all mankind. Protein intake, workout style, equipment, personal trainers…the first step for any person going to the gym is to drink water. The adult human body is roughly 60% water and if you’re dehydrated, virtually every part of your body and ability to work out is compromised.
Some people find that no matter how much water they drink, they still experience the achiness and fatigue of dehydration. That’s because, even if you’re drinking water, there are lots of things you could be eating or doing that are causing you to dehydrate. Here are 5 easy things, ranked from least to most surprising, that can cause dehydration:
5. High-sodium foods
We all know that sodium, a.k.a. salt, causes dehydration. But did you know that sodium is an additive in many foods you would not expect it to be? The FDA does not do a very good job in regulating how much sodium corporations are allowed to put in our food. It’s in pretty much everything from chicken noodle soup to pasta sauce.
Try to cut down on canned meats and foods, anything cured (salami, prosciutto, ham), cereal, and most commercially packaged pasta sauces. These types of foods all have astronomical levels of sodium relative to their nutrient count because its used as a preservative.
4. Heavy drinking
The pain of a hangover doesn’t just come from drinking too much the night before, it’s also because you’re dehydrated. Drinking a lot is a double-whammy of dehydration because not only does alcohol act as a diuretic, it also tricks the mind into thinking you’re drinking fluids and therefore you feel less thirsty, even as you dehydrate.
If you binge drink, you continue to get drunk after you fall asleep, so even if you might not feel that drunk when you go to bed, your body is continuing to dehydrate all night long without you knowing it. Always make sure to drink water when you drink and try to drink in moderation or avoid it entirely.
3. Air Travel
Being at a high altitude can also cause dehydration. Taking a commercial flight for a few hours or more can really cause someone to dehydrate. At a higher altitude where there is less humidity, the human body retains less of its natural water.
Always drink water before, during, and after you take a flight, especially if you are going to be working out or competing somewhere when you reach your destination. The effects of dehydration can linger for days, or even weeks if you don’t take time to replenish yourself!
2. Low-Carb Diets
This one might shock the pros out there, but it’s true. Carbs actually store a lot of the water weight in our bodies. So, if you’re in a cutting phase where you’re eating almost no carbs, you’re also losing a substantial amount of water along with that. Make sure to drink extra water to offset the balance, especially if you have only recently started a low-carb diet.
1. Stress
Even if you’re doing everything right — you could literally be drinking gallons of water a day — if you’re stressed out, you won’t retain water as well as if you weren’t. Being stressed out causes adrenal fatigue and causes the body to function less while in a variety of ways. You can manage your stress levels through meditation and mindfulness techniques. The benefits will probably go beyond just hydration, too!
2021 Battle Of Texas Results
Jennifer Ronzitti wins Bikini at the 2021 Battle Of Texas!
This weekend, Saturday December 4th 2021, held the Battle Of Texas Supershow bodybuilding competition at the Irving Convention Center. The pro show solely featured an epic battle in the Bikini division. The results have finally been announced – and pro competitor Jennifer Ronzitti won first place a the 2021 Battle Of Texas.
The 2021 pro bodybuilding season “officially” ended on October 8th with the Mr. Olympia 2021, with all following pro shows providing qualification and points towards the following Olympia in 2022. The Battle of Texas falls under this category during what is usually a sleepy month for the sport of bodybuilding. 17 Bikini competitors fought for top placings in Texas – but only one winner was able to stand tall in the end.
While Jennifer Ronzitti earned first place – other highlights include Alessia Facchin landing in second place and Mahsa Akbarimehr following in third place. Landing in the top three spots at a pro competition is not only important for possible points towards Olympia qualification – it also provides a highlight for athletes within the bodybuilding community.
Could these relative unknown competitors one day become household names vying for ultimate champion status at an event like the New York Pro, Arnold Classic, or even Olympia? Perhaps we will see this coming year in 2022.
The official results and score cards have been released. Check out the entire results breakdown of the 2021 Battle Of Texas Supershow below.
2021 Battle Of Texas Breakdown
Bikini
First Place – Jennifer Ronzitti
Second Place – Alessia Facchin
Third Place – Mahsa Akbarimehr
Fourth Place – Marisa Woo
Fifth Place – Lawna Dunbar
Sixth Place – Rachel Linares
Seventh Place – Mary Ann Parks
Eighth Place – Aimee Leann Velasquez
Ninth Place – Lucia Malavaze
Tenth Place – Samantha Houle
Official 2021 Battle Of Texas Scorecard
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Battle Of Texas. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Colin Congo Comments on How He Represents More Than Himself on Stage
Colin Congo may be on stage by himself, but he represents an army.
Colin Congo is one of the most notable faces in natural bodybuilding. He competes in Men’s Physique and was Mr. Natural Olympia in 2018. He’s also featured in our Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life film. Although winning trophies and prizes is something Congo indeed loves, he expresses that the memories and relationships he creates he holds dearly. While on stage, Congo knows he’s alone, but he brings a support system with him in his heart.
In an Instagram (IG) post on October 11, 2021, Congo said:
“When I’m on stage I’m by myself but I’m representing a whole lot of people who may not understand the sport but still support me and pray for my success because they know how passionate I am about it. I appreciate you all.”
In another post-Congo, said,
“Getting on stage at my very best is the goal of every contest, but the support I get from my girlfriend, friends, family, and even on social media is what really makes it worth it!”
Below, you can see more of what he said in the IG post and him flexing his 4th place medal in the Men’s Physique at Natural Olympia 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWwfpUPDaY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Colin Congo has to be one of the most passionate and hardworking bodybuilders out there. He loves the sport for what it is, but he’s not shy to express his worrisome about recent bodybuilding deaths and how drug use shouldn’t be counted out as a probable cause.
Alleged Drug Use in Bodybuilding
The dividing line in natural bodybuilding leagues such as the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA/PNBA) versus other bodybuilding leagues like the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) is that the INBA/PNBA drug tests competitors from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) – the summit of professional drug testing.
However, Colin Congo admits that no drug test is 100% accurate. In a GI Exclusive interview with Colin Congo, he stated, “I know there are dudes out there that are 100% natural that just have absolutely gifted physiques. And they are going to look enhanced and they are going to just look like that. I’m not the gatekeeper for who’s natural and who’s not. I know I get up there and put my best physique on the stage. And I’m counting on the organization to hold those guys to the same standard that I’m holding myself to.”
Here’s a clip below on Congo explaining how drug tests can be beaten:
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Many natural bodybuilders in the INBA/PNBA league have been busted for drug abuse and ended up on the Hall of Shame. Of course, with WADA in place and the Hall of Shame, the chances of drug use in the INBA/PNBA league are drastically reduced.
Collin Congo wears his heart on his sleeves in bodybuilding. And he’s a leader in the sport who spreads nothing but love. He’s also an active FBI agent and avid aviator.
Generation Iron would like to wish Colin Congo success in the upcoming 2022 INBA/PNBA year. On social media, Congo stated, “We’re really bringing the heat in 2022.”
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