Originally Posted by Pikey

Andy yes there're formula used at weightlifting and powerlifting competitions to rate the best lifter, you have to use them otherwise lighter guys would win every time, I could squat over 4 times bodyweight at 67K obviously a lot more impressive for a 110K guy to do the same - hence the tables as if just calculated on multiples of bodyweight....

The heaviest weight every lifted and verified was Pauk Anderson with 6,270 lbs in the back lift and at a time when not very many performances enhancers other than test and dianabol where available, as they were perfectly legal and legit prior to the 70's odds are he would be using them.

Two guy's have lifted 12 times bodyweight in total at a powerlifting competition which would probably be good criteria, Ron Palmer totaled 1951lbs at 165lbs I've read a lot which says he's the strongest pound for pound.

Personally I don't really hold with it, it's ok being brutally strong in 3 competitive lifts but I think you need to have a much more rounded strength to make the claim.

Some of the post war strength athletes like Grimeck and Vasilef could make a good claim, Grimeck won the Olympic weightlifting crown at a time when the clean and press made it a much more rounded event and won numerous bodybuilding titles I think including the Universe. Vasilef could preacher one arm curl 165lb at about 180, won weightlifting titles and was Mr America. Again at a time when pretty much only basic gear was around

I've seen Kazmaier in the flesh curl 185K on an Olympic bar for 8 reps, that blew my mind what was more impressive the challenge he threw down in a hard core Powerlifting gym was who’s got the best curl in here, you can use an EZ bar I’ll use a straight, beat yours by a plate aside and double the reps… He did admit 185K was as heavy as he ever went. So 4 plates aside with collars for eight reps on the curl, pretty strict in my mind is mind blowing so while “experts” may disagree I think he’s worthy of the title. but the "experts" would probably say Palmer...