Some ironagers would say that lol!
I don't get what this fascination is with Ronnie in 1998 or 1999. Yes, his shape and symmetry was at a personal best, but in 2003, not only was his shape and symmetry very good by competitive bodybuilding standards, but his size was insane!!
I have to give it to Dorian on calves and dryness, but Ronnie's conditioning is equal in a different way. Dorian and Ronnie both have reprehensible midsections, but Dorian has better abs where Ronnie has more mass to compensate for his gut and make it more forgivable (although guts should rarely, if ever, be forgivable). Dorian's lats originate closer to his waist and create a more pleasing lat span in many poses (abs and thigh), but Ronnie's sheer mass beat Dorian's in some other poses (most muscular).
I do think Dorian at his best would probably be among Ronnie's best competition, but I would have to give the edge to Ronnie, by virtue of sheer size, which I feel outweighs Dorian's strengths over Ronnie.
Well in all honesty Ronnie 98/99 are his best Olympia appearences . and Ronnie never had really specracular balance but it was better when he was lighter , this is noticable at heavier & much lighter weights .
Dorian in 1993 did NOT have a reprehensible midsection , not in the least and no where near Coleman 2003 and even at his worse Dorian's midsection never stuck out to the lenght Ronnies did mainly due to the fact that Dorian has a naturaly wider waist and Ronnie has a very short torso so while Dorian's expands sideways Ronnie's sticks out frontways. so while Ronnie ( 2003 ) has a 30lb weight advantage he's still not as dry or balanced as Yates so while he may match Dorian in the density and surpass him on muscular bulk thats NOT an automatic winner .
I'm readily willing to admit Dorian even with better balance & conditioning than 2003 Ronnie may lose , Ronnie 2003 was absolutely HUGE with good conditioning so Yates maybe would be relegated to a Shawn Ray role but thats not set in stone , but if anyone could give Ronnie 2003 a run for his money is Yates. remember the judges look for muscular bulk , muscular balance , musclar density and definition ( conditioning ) Dorian has the edge in conditioning & balance , Ronnie maybe in density & bulk so its closer than it appears . Ronnie in 2003 may have dominated Cutler & Jackson but never faced anyone like Yates. factor in Dorian has beaten 280lb + bodybuilders before , Fux , Harrison , El Sonbaty , and Ronnie is another example himself of a smaller bodybuilder beating Nasser at the 1998 Olympia despite being 30lbs lighter.
