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After Larry Scott’s meteoric rise to the top, beginning with his Mr. California win in 1960 and continuing to his overall Mr. Universe crown in 1964, he had no place to go, competitively. Not long after becoming Mr. Universe, Larry was having lunch with Joe and Betty Weider in Los Angeles, and the lunchtime conversation turned to what was next for him. In a greater sense, though, they were talking about what was next for any bodybuilder who had won it all but wanted something more.
Joe wanted to elevate the sport to a professional level with a title that wouldn’t end with a single win—the chosen model being heavyweight professional boxing, in which the World Champion defends his title until he either relinquishes it by retiring undefeated or is beaten. The question was what to call it.
Joe saw the contest as the pinnacle of bodybuilding, the ultimate goal for a competitive physique athlete.
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