Fulcher wins overall title of Hawaiian Islands bodybuilding event

By Seabrook Mow
Special to The Advertiser

Raoul Fulcher Jr. of Salt Lake took a step closer toward becoming a professional bodybuilder Saturday night, winning the super heavyweight division and overall title of the 23rd Hawaiian Islands Bodybuilding Championships at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Think you're physically fit? You are, if you look like Christine Nguyen, who won the women's fitness competition. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"I think he has a great future it looks like, I think he's in incredible shape," said featured guest poser Gunter Schlierkamp, a European and World champion. "And I think that you'll probably see him in the future with the pros."

And if he should meet Fulcher on the same stage? "Then we're going to both kick our asses," Schlierkamp laughed.

By winning the overall title, Fulcher is now eligible for two years to enter a national contest.

"I plan on using those two years to my advantage," he said. "I want to put on 10, 20 and . . . God-willing, 30 pounds of quality muscle before nationals."

Competing at the nationals is like playing in the minors, where aspiring bodybuilders must prove themselves by winning the contest before turning pro.

"But right now, I'm speechless," Fulcher said. "I'm just happy, happy that I won, just happy."

Fulcher's only competition of the night came for the overall title, when he competed against the other weight class winners. He was the lone competitor in the super heavyweight division (2251/4 pounds and above).

"I didn't expect to win (the overall title), in my mindset anything could've happened," Fulcher said. "Edgar (Cabrera) beat out a tough light heavyweight class and was one to contend with."

But the size difference Fulcher had over the others was noticeable. "He stuck out like a sore thumb, with his muscle size and density," said judge Cindy Lee.

Judges said super heavyweight Raoul Fulcher Jr. "stuck out like a sore thumb, with his muscle size and density," after awarding the 37-year-old Salt Lake resident the overall title. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

"It could've gone either way. If only we could've crowned two light heavyweights," said judge Mike Lau, the 1982 Hawaiian Islands overall winner. "This year's light heavyweight contestants was the best class ever assembled in all my years of judging and participation. Any eight (light heavyweights) could've gone to another contest and won."

Lau believes three or four men are of national caliber. "They could go and compete on a national stage and look good," he said.

Another close call came in the women's fitness division, which was won by Christine Nguyen. Nguyen beat Tess Yong by captivating the crowd with an explosive array of flips and tumbles.

"I didn't expect to win because I just put my routine together just this past Wednesday," Nguyen said. "I just wanted the crowd to have a good time."

Lee said Nguyen "had a lot of energy, she was just jumping all around. Her impact was that she had a lot of stage presence and confidence."

Added Lau: "Tonight's women's class was a great class. It shows movement in the right direction."

Class winners:

Women Fitness: Christine Nguyen

Hawaiian Islands

Lightweight: Chris Yelton. Heavyweight: Ausage Emosi.

Masters (35-0ver)

Lightweight: Tai Kon Lee. Heavyweight: Toe Preston.

Hawaiian Island Open

Bantam (1431/4-below): Richie Langit. Lightweight (1541/4-below): Brant Arelliano. Middleweight (1761/4-below): Chris Calio. Light heavyweight (1981/4-below): Edgar Cabrera. Heavyweight (2251/4-below): Robert Daniel. Super heavyweight (2251/4-above): Raoul Fulcher Jr.