A very popular YouTuber “Ivan Bodybuilding” ran a headline “IFBB HEAD JUDGE CALL OUT MARTIN FITZWATER” on a recent video regarding the non-incident between IFBB Pro Martin Fitzwater and journalist Giles “Tiger” Thomas at the 2025 EVLS Prague Pro.
The video was released on November 28, 2025 and as of press time had nearly 15,000 views. “I’m not exactly sure what [Tamer’s] functions with the federation are,” Ivan opined. The YouTuber went on to say, “he’s not talking from the position that someone has authority in the IFBB, but someone giving advice.” This is what we call covering your ass. But the bottom line is, if the content creator didn’t believe Tamer was speaking for the Federation – and – if he didn’t believe he was speaking from his official capacity as an IFBB Head Judge, then why include IFBB Head Judge in the title?
How many of the 15,000 and counting viewers will watch the full video and listen the CYA clarification? How many will simply assume that Martin is in bad standing with the IFBB Pro League? This is classic misinformation.
If MARTIN FITZWATER is ever in good, bad, or whatever standing with the IFBB Pro League, it’s going to come from JIM MANION – NOT TAMER EL GUINDY. It may also come by way of the VP or a top official relaying the message, but unless the big guy signs off, then it doesn’t mean jack shit. The lines are clearly blurred in the court of public opinion, otherwise, IvanBodybuilding wouldn’t have run the title that way.
It’s one thing to have a 60yr old pretending to be the athlete’s rep ragging on competitors from his broom closet, but it’s quite another to have an IFBB HEAD JUDGE / Commentator “giving advice” on a popular social media program. I can ASSURE YOU Tamer is not in the inner circle, either. There’s three guys, names starting with T, S, and G, who are closest to the Pres. Tamer is key player because of his work as a judge, but more importantly from an operational standpoint parallel to Dan at the O. He’s no doubt a heavy-hitter, but he is in no way, shape, or form in a position to speak for Pittsburgh. And this video that IvanBodybuilding ran – even with his cute CYA clarification – speaks to a bigger issue. IF this guy is making a video, it’s because a lot of people are talking about it. Who knows how Tamer’s statement is being spun by independent media outlets throughout the world?
Guys like Ivan like to report on what’s trending and viral. That’s what these professional YouTubers do. They make videos about what people are talking about. So it stands to reason that a big swath of people are under the impression that when Tamer addressed Martin on air, he was doing a lot more than just offering up some advice.
IvanBodybuilding’s video is the smoking gun. I would hope that in the future, Tamer clarifies what hat he’s wearing when he addresses IFBB Pro League athletes from the news desk. Otherwise, he’s bound to FAFO.
