Terence Crawford Stands Firm on Manny Pacquiao PED Usage

Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) feels that Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) might have had a bit of external help in his journey to achieving greatness.

The eight-division world champion is undoubtedly one of the greatest names in the world of boxing, with a reign that started in 1995. ‘Bud,’ on the other hand, has a hard time believing this narrative, with him taking a rather strong stance on Pacquiao’s alleged steroid usage.

Talking at the Pound 4 Pound podcast hosted by Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Crawford was asked about his picks for the top five greatest fighters of all time.

“You got Sugar Ray Robinson, you got Sugar Ray Leonard, you got Floyd Mayweather. You got Marvin Hagler, you got Roberto Duran, that’s five right there,” he said.

Cejudo, on the other hand, questioned his decision to put Hagler on the list while not adding the likes of Pacquiao. Crawford, however, stood firm in his answer, stating that there were solid reasons for his picks. This certainly piqued Usman’s interest, making him extra curious about the reason. Crawford acknowledged that Pacquiao is a phenomenal fighter who has accomplished tiers of greatness in his career, albeit for a few haunting grey areas.

“I don’t feel like, you know, he did it on his own. That’s me personally. The simple fact when Floyd (Mayweather) made it a point for him to do the blood test, he didn’t want to do the blood test. But when he did do the blood test, he hasn’t gotten a knockout since,” he said. “What’s the last thing to leave you? It’s the power. You may lose speed, you may lose athleticism, but that power gonna still be there. Look at George Foreman.”

“He Set The Bar High”

Pacquiao’s former opponent, Floyd Mayweather Jr., also had to face Crawford’s wrath during the same interview, albeit from a place of respect. Crawford shared his thoughts on why UFC is better than boxing and why Mayweather might have played a major role in it.

“One thing that I love about the UFC is that a guy can lose and still be supported. Nowadays in boxing, Floyd made it to where you lose, and they’re kicking you to the curb and saying you’re a bum, you’re this, you’re that,” he said. “He left with an unblemished record, and he set the bar high. So, now everybody is trying to protect the 0.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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