Fuck no. It's not deserved. He's not better than Ronnie or Haney.
Or Yates or 09 Jay.
Phil doesn't get respect now, but he will get the respect after he retires. It happens to all champions. Will breaking the record make him the best? No.
Yes, I know he's pretty disliked, but it's hard to bring someone down who has the record for Olympia wins. Better than Ronnie Coleman, better than Lee Haney, better than Arnold, better than Dorian. That's IF he gets 9.
Haney was always respected....
Haney was respected by more people, but every champion has haters. It's the name of the game when you keep winning.
Find me any documented accounts of people hating on Haney...
No, because his competition has always sucked.