Steven Nelson ‘disappointed’ after learning of opponent’s failed PED test

Super middleweight Steven Nelson’s impressive fifth-round knockout of Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez on Aug. 3 at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles was marred by the revelation that his opponent tested positive for a banned substance. 

Despite his dominant performance, 36-year-old Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) was later disheartened by the news that Rodriguez, according to a test result released by VADA last Friday, was found to have recombinant EPO in his system. This naturally left Nelson feeling as though Rodriguez had crossed an ethical line. 

“When you compete, you’re trying to show the world who is the best in whatever you’re competing in,” Nelson said. “For our fight, it was obvious that I was a lot better than my opponent. But imagine if we were equal in abilities – it would just take a small push to win those fights, and that push could be athletes taking performance-enhancing drugs.”

Nelson expressed disappointment in the widespread use of PEDs in the sport, emphasizing the dedication of clean athletes who rely solely on hard work. “It’s disappointing knowing that these athletes rely on PEDs to win fights or even to stay at the top of their game. There are so many clean athletes out here just putting the hard work in and believing in themselves,” Nelson said.

Reflecting on the prevalence of drug use in boxing, Nelson acknowledged the temptation for some athletes to consider PEDs in order to compete at the highest level. However, he finds inspiration in training alongside his teammate and childhood friend Terence Crawford, whom he proudly notes is a clean athlete. 

“So many athletes get busted for drugs, you start to think to yourself, maybe to be at the top, I’m supposed to take these performance-enhancing drugs,” Nelson said. “All the other athletes are doing it. … Luckily, I’m blessed to be with a lot of other clean athletes, one being Terence Crawford, pound-for-pound number one. So I know that with the blueprint of how we work and how we train, we can be the best in the world.”

Nelson also speculated on the timing of Rodriguez’s drug use, noting that both fighters were tested a few weeks before the bout with negative results. “They tested us before the fight and right after,” Nelson said. “I think he may have thought that was the only test and was taking something to get the edge for the fight.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.