What if Lou Ferrigno had competed in the 1980's?

[Danimal77]

I always believed that Louie in the early/mid 1970's had not yet matured and come into his own. His physique was WAY MORE impressive by the late 70's into the early 80's. What if he had competed at that time against the lineup of that era? I think aside from Haney, NO ONE else would have stood a chance against him. He even admitted in 1982/1983, that if he had shown up at the 1982 Mr. Olympia with his Hercules condition, he would have easily taken the Sandow. Remember, he was busy doing the Hulk from 1977-1982 (his PEAK years).

[Danimal77]

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[Kwon_2]

Great physique during his Hercules-years

[Everhard]

He still would have worn a hearing aid.

[Wee Laddy]

To what end?  To be as popular as Chris Dickerson?

Arnold and Lou are the only two bodybuilders the general public can name.  He made the right decision.

[johnny1]

I always believed that Louie in the early/mid 1970's had not yet matured and come into his own. His physique was WAY MORE impressive by the late 70's into the early 80's. What if he had competed at that time against the lineup of that era? I think aside from Haney, NO ONE else would have stood a chance against him. He even admitted in 1982, that if he had shown up at the 1982 Mr. Olympia with his Hercules condition, he would have easily taken the Sandow. Remember, he was busy doing the Hulk from 1977-1982 (his PEAK years).

Im not so sure he would of won the Olympia, there were guys that from head to toe were just alittle bit more proportioned than big Lou, from the front just standing there he always seemed too look like the Winner, then in Manatorys like the RDB, STC, RLS, etc etc his skeletal structure came into play in not a so positive light...MM...SC....FDB.. ..yeah Massive huge etc...the others not so, i dont see him ever beating a Prime Zane (late 1970s) a Prime Dickerson (late 1970s oddly enough better than when he actually won the O in 82) and most Def never beating a Prime Samir Bannout...imo....his best chance was RIGHT AFTER arnold retired in 1976....that was the year he would of more than likey had a Real chance before Little franco sqeeked a win out before Zane took the "sport" into a different Direction...physique wise @ least. 

[Hulkotron]

Would have changed the course of history.

[TheShape]

If he just kept competing from '76 on, he probably could have had 7 Sandows. Too bad he ruined his physique later in his comeback with HGH and insulin.

[CARTEL]

You owe Lou $160.00

[Kwon_2]

Would have changed the course of history.

Yes

He would have been in Donald Trumps position, firing Donald.

[Cleanest Natural]

You owe Lou $160.00

[Moontrane]

He still would have worn a hearing aid.

What...?

[Cleanest Natural]

first pic he looks insane.

[Moontrane]

To what end?  To be as popular as Chris Dickerson?

Arnold and Lou are the only two bodybuilders the general public can name.  He made the right decision.

You are correct, sir.

[Skylge]

If he just kept competing from '76 on, he probably could have had 7 Sandows. Too bad he ruined his physique later in his comeback with HGH and insulin.

And calf implants...

[calfzilla]

Claims natural.

[luvvsuNOT]

Easily crush Franco, Zane, Dickerson and Bannout. Haney would have been tougher but I still think he would have beaten Haney just because of his sheer size. And he did have a balanced physique. At 6'5" very few can fill out to pro bodybuilder portion. Especially with the quads. Louie had no glaring weak points. Even calves pre implants. They weren't that bad. Certainly better than Dexter and Coleman. If he was able to nail the conditioning he would have been just as dominate as Arnold.

But he made the right choice career wise.

[Powerlift66]

Lou would have won a few I bet. Dickerson looked like crap, and he towered over Samir and Frank.
Plus it doesn't matter who has the best physique, it's who they feel like promoting...

[Danimal77]

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[Danimal77]

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[Danimal77]

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[Danimal77]

Easily crush Franco, Zane, Dickerson and Bannout. Haney would have been tougher but I still think he would have beaten Haney just because of his sheer size. And he did have a balanced physique. At 6'5" very few can fill out to pro bodybuilder portion. Especially with the quads. Louie had no glaring weak points. Even calves pre implants. They weren't that bad. Certainly better than Dexter and Coleman. If he was able to nail the conditioning he would have been just as dominate as Arnold.

But he made the right choice career wise.

If you look at all the pics I posted, he DID nail his conditioning for Hercules. According to himself, his weight ranged between 262-271 during the filming of the movie and at that time in his life he was just over 6'4" (between 6'2" and 6'3" today).

Everyone thinks of 19-24 Lou Ferrigno of 1971-1975. He hadn't yet matured and was soft. Starting in 1977 and especially by 1983, he was a completely different specimen (again, which is more than evident by the pics I uploaded). He would have destroyed all competitors (even Arnold in 1980).

[HandsomeMOFO]

BOOM

[luvvsuNOT]

If you look at all the pics I posted, he DID nail his conditioning for Hercules. According to himself, his weight ranged between 262-271 during the filming of the movie and at that time in his life he was just over 6'4" (between 6'2" and 6'3" today).

Everyone thinks of 19-24 Lou Ferrigno of 1971-1975. He hadn't yet matured and was soft. Starting in 1977 and especially by 1983, he was a completely different specimen (again, which is more than evident by the pics I uploaded). He would have destroyed all competitors (even Arnold in 1980).

Oh, no doubt he could get in condition. He had much better conditioning in '74 and looked better than in '75. I just meant that if he could consistently hit it come show time. But, yes, you are quite right. He was just a kid in his early twenties during his PI days. I don't think a man's physique peaks until he gets into his late twenties up to mid thirties. If he trained consistently and like a pro bodybuilder he would have destroyed Arnold in 1980. He would have easily dominate the years 1976-82. Franco, Zane, Dickerson and Bannout wouldn't have stood a chance. I think that because of being over shadowed by the sheer greatness of Arnold's prime years physique and not having the charisma and personality of Arnold, Lou has never been given the credit he deserved as to the true genetic freak he was at that time. People forget how hard it is to look good in a BBing trunks when you start to get over six feet. How many over six footers looked good on stage? It's the long legs that kill you. Arnold and Rolf had that problem. Gunter was able to pull it off and contrary to popular belief, Wolf is not over six feet. I don't think he's even quite hits the six feet mark. But Lou didn't have that look of being long and stringy. He didn't have those long naturally slender legs that tall people have. He's the legend that never was. But that's OK. Despite how people like to rag on him here he did better in life as an actor and celebrity than if he were to have pursue his bodybuilding career.

[Mr Nobody]

Arnold would have beat him again in 1980.