The recent bout between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford ignited controversy-not just over the Mexican fighter’s future, but also over the lingering issue of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in boxing. Legendary champions Lennox Lewis and Hasim Rahman are now speaking out, determined to eliminate the steroid cloud that threatens both the sport’s integrity and the health of its athletes.
Widely hailed as the boxing event of the year, the Alvarez vs. Crawford showdown finally brought two of today’s top pound-for-pound fighters into the ring. But instead of settling the debate over who reigns supreme, Crawford’s victory stirred fresh controversy and revived old rumors surrounding his opponent.
Back in 2018, Canelo tested positive twice for clenbuterol, an anabolic agent, ahead of his fight with Gennady Golovkin. The results were ultimately blamed on contaminated meat consumed by Alvarez. Still, Lewis and Rahman haven’t forgotten-and they’re now proposing a radical solution to combat PED use.
Lewis and Rahman vs. steroids
Speaking with Radio Rahim on the Seconds Out podcast, the two former world champions didn’t hold back in their criticism of steroid users.
“People who cheat don’t believe in themselves,” Lewis said. “And people who cheat don’t want to do the work. They don’t want to do the work it takes to be a champion.”
Rahman offered a bold proposal: “I think whenever you’re in a championship fight, you should get 20% of your purse until all the testing comes back. And if it comes back dirty-if you pop dirty-half should go to the commission, half should go to the opponent.”
Lewis doubled down, saying, “Your brain has to make you work hard. That’s what makes you work hard. Don’t take a pill or a shot to make you work hard.”
Both fighters agree: anyone caught using PEDs should be disqualified from the conversation about boxing’s greatest of all time (GOAT)-including Canelo Alvarez.
Is Canelo out of the GOAT conversation?
Due to Canelo’s past doping controversy and the broader scrutiny surrounding trainer Eddy Reynoso’s stable, Lewis and Rahman were unequivocal: the Mexican star doesn’t belong in the GOAT debate.
“When you get steroids, things go in your head, right?” Rahman said. “When you get that kind of stuff-when you’re not 100% clean-you can’t be in that conversation. You can’t be in that conversation.”
Their stance doesn’t just exclude Canelo-it casts doubt on several other fighters who’ve been linked to PED scandals.
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