<em>By Ray Wheatley — World of Boxing</em>
Former WBA heavyweight champion Lucas “Big Daddy” Browne (28-2, 24 KOs) will clash with former Australian heavyweight champion John Hopoate (12-6, 11 KOs) on Saturday at the StMarys Band Club, StMarys, NSW, Australia. Browne, 40, captured the WBA title by ten round stoppage over Ruslan Chagaev in Grozny, Russia in 2016, but was later stripped after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. Big Daddy attributed the test result to tainted meat.
He is coming off a three round KO stoppage loss to Dave Allen in London in April.
Hopoate, 44, is a former 2008 Australian heavyweight champion and is coming off a second round KO loss to Paul Gallen in February.
“was later stripped after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol. Big Daddy attributed the test result to tainted meat.” — but since Browne’s name isn’t Canelo, boxing officials didn’t look the other way and his career was ruined.
i agree there may be double standards, but Browne’s career was hardly ruined. He went on to have a huge payday 2 years later fighting Dillian Whyte.
He didn’t get much for it. Was once a friend of mine. He got nasty after that fight and started caring on about how he should be a millionaire. Wish him the best
fair enough, but was a good opportunity. thanks for reply
Lucas Browne’s better days are behind him as a fighter. Nothing exciting to watch in my book except his poor foot skills in the ring if one is entertained by a big-man’s lack of coordination in a common boxing stance.
@Packy: you are unfortunately 100% right.
Clenbuterol is one of the most popular PEDs because people have figured out that they can all use the “tainted meat” excuse.
Interestingly, Erik Morales was suspended (by USADA) for 2 years when he took Clen.
Canelo is currently the biggest cash cow in boxing and and that’s why he gets every protection possible. Interestingly, no one mentions the fact anymore that he was a repeat offender and that fact that most professionals who look at his physical transformation attribute it to steroids.
Ironically, its all those paying “fans” who make these double standards possible. For me, they are as guilty as the offenders. There are still countless gullible “boxing fans” out there who pay tens of millions of $$ to see Canelo or similar drug cheaters fight.
And the most ironic thing of all: the industry itself couldn’t care less about any fight – all they care is how many tune in, and how much profit can be made.
He lookslike he eats enough meat to run into something tainted. I say he gets the benefit of the doubt 🙂
this fight is a shame really ,means nothing ,two old men putting on a show for a few bucks.One an ex MMA fighter,the other an ex rugby player best known for(na I wont get into that). My dad used to call fighters that shouldve retired as punch drunk ,he used to say they started to talk funny like slurring their words…..sad…sad the boxing organisations allow it
He had his moment. Squandered by a second failed test he had zero excuse for.
Too bad he isn’t a WBA regular champ or whatever the lower end of their belt is, he would be fighting Canelo.
Hahaha!
Browne has gone down hill since the WBA title fight. Nothing more then a bum fighting another bum or thug as Hopper is.
Australia will never have a heavy weight champ period – to dumb to stupid and full of peds.
To me it’s simply a non event…..I hope it’s not the main event and if so don’t expect much bang for your buck !!