THE MYTHICAL MASS MONSTER OF THE ’90S TAKES ON TODAY’S SCARIEST BEHEMOTH
Do you believe in monsters? Photos of Victor Richards generated shock waves in the ’90s. His legs and arms were as gargantuan as any pro’s. And his fame grew with dubious claims about his weight, strength, and appetite. But Big Vic never stepped on a pro stage. We’re going to approximate such a contest now in the ultimate monster mash.
Claiming to be 330 pounds with 26-inch arms and a 67-inch chest (all ludicrous numbers), Richards last competed at the 1992 Nigerian Championships. (He’s American, but his father is Nigerian-born.) But contest photos of him are as scarce as clear shots of Bigfoot. The best views of him were at 1994’s FIBO, where he famously traded poses with Dorian Yates. Transported to the present, he’d face the same problems against Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay that he did against Yates. Assuming he was in proper contest shape (unlike at FIBO), he’d have enough arm, chest, and leg mass to hang close in some shots. But the ultrawide Elssbiay would make Richards look narrow, as did Yates. That said, two decades ago, if he could’ve refined what he had, Big Vic might have been what Big Ramy is today—a mass monster who scares other pros.
ELSSBIAY
“I eat eight times per day in the off-season and get 50 to 60 grams of protein per meal.” —Elssbiay
STRENGTHS
Overall size, quad mass, shoulder width
WEAKNESSES
Calves, leg separation
BEST POSE
Front lat spread
WORSE POSE
Side triceps
VICTOR RICHARDS
“I’II consume anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 calories in a typical day.”—Richards
