Veteran journalist Dennis James has voiced skepticism regarding Sam Sulek's future in the Classic Physique division. Speaking on The Menace Podcast, James questioned Sulek's suitability for the category following his Pro debut at the 2026 Arnold Classic, where Sulek placed eighth.
James stated, "Sam’s not classic for me. I don’t see a classic physique." He advised Sulek to consider taking time off to build mass and potentially compete in the Open division. "My advice for Sam would be, take a couple of years off, put as much weight as you can put on, and go into Open and see what where you at," James recommended.
Fellow panelists Jose Raymond and Milos Sarcev agreed that Sulek would need to add significant size to contend at the highest level. Sarcev noted, "He doesn’t have a Classic body."
James emphasized his assessment was purely technical, based on physique. He suggested Sulek was fast-tracked to Pro status and would likely not qualify through traditional amateur routes. Sulek is slated to compete in the Classic division at the Arnold UK in March 2026, an event where he could potentially challenge these critiques.