4. A lot of people say that you are the only pro bodybuilder that could go head to head with Ronnie Coleman. Like him, you were the only other to be able to gain so much mass in one year. What are your thoughts on this?
A. I get asked that question all the time, and I can’t really give an answer. I have actually beaten Ronnie, but then he wasn’t at the stage he is now. He is probably carrying more muscle than I did, but I feel I had better conditioning than him. It would be close but that’s down to the judge’s decision as always. All the things that we have in common – Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman and myself – is that we are all stable mentally, training hard, not messing around partying. You have to keep the focus and it’s usually the mind that is the deciding factor, over physical capabilities.
He's an IFBB judge he would know who has the better conditioning , Oppps Sorry Dorian , Neosemenole " The Certified Personal Trainer " know more about competitive bodybuilding than a 6 time Mr. Olympia winner and an IFBB Judge lmmfao he learned all of this on www.GetBig.com looking at magazine scans and compressed Youtube video lol
While I’m on record as saying that the best physique I ever saw was Ronnie’s at the 2001 Arnold, he was never drier or harder than Dorian. In fact now that – 14 years after it happened – I recently for the first time saw the video of Dorian posing before the 1993 Olympia I have cause to rethink. I’m now not sure that Ronnie at 245 pounds would beat Dorian at 269 pounds. At a bigger bodyweight I think Ronnie would look soft next to an in-shape rock-hard Dorian.
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RONNIE IS UNBEATABLE Joe Weider"Many experts, including reigning Mr.Olympia, Jay Cutler, believe that at his best Ronnie has the greatest physique of all-time. When looking at pictures of Ronnie from the 1998 Mr.Olympia, I find it hard to argue with that."
Team Flex – http://www.flexonline.com/training/49“We've said before that the 245 pounds or so physique with which [Ronnie Coleman] won the 2001 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic is the best ever — unbeatable."
Lonnie Teper - MD, December 2005"I've always said that it's too hard to compare athletes of different eras (then he names a few Mr. Olympias including Dorian). Still, it's hard to imagine that anybody who's ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage could have beaten Coleman. So I reserve the right to change my mind on this one. No offense to the rest of the champs - you were/are all truly amazing physique athletes - but Coleman has really taken it to the next level, as all magnificent conquerors do."
Peter McGough - Flex, August 2005"Ronnie sporting that [01 ASC] look would, in my opinion, be unbeatable."
Shawn Perine Ironage Dec 11, 2004“As much as I love Haney and my IA champs, I think Ronnie circa '98 or at the 2001 Arnold is pretty much untouchable. Except by Dorian Yates 6 weeks out from the '93 O as photographed by our own KMH. Both men, on those specific occasions carried so much dry muscle mass in good proportion and with good lines that it's almost unfair to compare them to others.”
Shawn Perine - Flex, July 2007 p. 207"After all, he's still, even at 43 yrs old, eight-time Mr. O Ronnie freakin' Coleman. Which is to say, arguably the best bodybuilder who has ever lived."
Greg Merritt - Flex, July 2007 p. 212"Coleman is only two years older than the new Mr. O (hypothetical article saying if Toney Freeman won), but time stops for no man, including the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived."
Flex Wheeler - MD, February 2004"I'll go on record as saying Ronnie is truly the biggest, hardest, most shredded Mr. Olympia in history. No disrespect to anybody at all, but I'd to identify Ronnie Coleman as the greatest Mr. Olympia of all time."
Jean Pierre Fux - Personal Website"The current Mr. Olympia (Ronnie Coleman). In top shape, probably the best physique that ever stepped on stage."
Paul Dillet - MD, February 2004"Understand that if Ronnie walked away tomorrow, I do not think anyone can measure up to the standards he has set. Just like Sergio Oliva, an awesome bodybuilder way ahead of his time, and like Flex Wheeler, who had an absolutely perfect, beautiful physique. No one will match Serigo or Flex and now Ronnie."
Steve Blechman - MD, Febrary 2004"Ronnie perseveres and proves continually that, at his best, he is unbeatable."
Mike Matarazzo – Flex, January 1999“I think this creature from another planet, Ronnie Coleman, is going to be number one for a while. I think that, in the shape he was in, he would have beaten Dorian Yates. Ronnie has every single attribute it takes to be the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived.”
Dexter Jackson - Flex, January 2004"As to Ronnie, that dude is by far the best bodybuilder on earth, he is in a class by himself, and no one will be able to touch him for years to come."
John Hansen, 2x Mr. Natural Universe and Mr. Natural Olympia - Personal Website"It would be safe to say that [Ronnie Coleman] presented a physique that has never been seen by the bodybuilding world ever before. Competing at an incredibly massive 287 pounds, Ronnie destroyed the competition with a physique that could not possibly be equaled."
Ryan Mackie - A Fan Perspective: My 2003 Olympia Experience (Hosted on Bodybuilding.com)"Everyone could see that at 287 pounds this was Ronnie's night and that he was back on top of his game and furthermore bodybuilding had just seen the bar of excellence raised even further. Just like Dorian Yates did in 1993 when he set a new standard, Ronnie has now taken it even further leaving all his competitors wonder what they have to do to now catch Ronnie Coleman, let alone beat him."
Branch Warren – Flex, October 2006“I have a lot of respect for Ronnie. He’s probably the greatest bodybuilder there’s ever been.”
Dorian Yates – PBW Radio Interview"The judges would probably choose Ronnie [over me]."
Greg Meritt – http://www.metroflexgymtraining.com/testimonials.html“From the greatest bodybuilder of all-time, Ronnie Coleman, to gregarious owner Brian Dobson to the kid who joined yesterday, everyone is trying to push themselves further than ever before, and it’s the energy of this shared commitment that makes Metroflex great.”