Bodybuilding Legend Lee Haney Claimed He Would’ve Beaten Dorian Yates if He Competed in 1992: “Don’t Think He Was Pushing Me”

Lee Haney, the first man to win eight Sandow trophies, spoke about competing against Dorian Yates in 2022. The bodybuilding legend who broke Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Olympia record explained he would’ve won the Super Bowl of bodybuilding nine times had he not retired in 1992. That same year, Dorian Yates claimed his first Olympia title. While appearing on the Rx Muscle YouTube Channel, the 64-year-old explained his reasoning behind the claim.

Haney explained the aspects in which The Shadow lagged behind the eight-time Mr. Olympia. When the host, Dave Palumbo, asked if Yates had pushed Haney to the limit, the former champion dismissed the notion.

Lee Haney was confident about his claim about defeating Dorian Yates

The 64-year-old former champion said he had “no doubt” that he would’ve emerged victorious in 1992. A popular narrative formed among the bodybuilding community that Haney retired because he knew he wouldn’t beat Dorian Yates in 1992. However, Tota-Lee Awesome dismissed the assumptions. “I don’t think he was pushing me…“ said the retired bodybuilder.

Lee Haney claimed that he possessed superior “waist and shoulder ratio,” and muscle maturity. Dorian Yates is remembered as the original mass monster. However, judges equally prioritized proportions, symmetry, and size before the Englishman became Mr. Olympia. “You had to have those fine lines,” said Haney, and claimed that Yates didn’t have that in 1992. 

“It takes time to get there…Dorian’s physique hadn’t fully matured,” claimed the International Sports Hall of Famer. Lee also spoke about how much muscle mass Yates had put on in 1992. Yet, Lee Haney confidently claimed that Yates didn’t reach the “maturity level” he had when he retired from competitive bodybuilding.

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The 64-year-old also believed that he had the upper hand in “overall symmetry.” Interestingly, Yates considered himself as the first real challenger to the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Dorian Yates remembers 1991 quite differently

While Lee Haney dismissed the idea of The Shadow beating him in 1992, Yates believes he could’ve won in 1991. In 2019, the five-time Mr. Olympia appeared on Rx Muscle and spoke about Haney. Yates said he was the first challenger to give Tota-Lee Awesome a run for his money. In fact, the 61-year-old said in his eyes, he beat Haney at the mandatory poses.

Dorian Yates said if someone took away the posing round, he would’ve won in 1991. Hence, both champions view the contest differently and put forward their strength. While Lee Haney believed Yate’s muscle mass wouldn’t have made a difference, the five-time Mr. Olympia sees it the other way around.

So, who do you think would’ve won in 1992? Tell us in the comments.

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