Browne takes shot at Gallen as feud escalates

Lucas Browne has echoed Paul Gallen's call for drug testing ahead of their April 21 six-round bout in Wollongong.

Gallen said he wanted drug testing before the fight because of Browne's previous doping scandals. But the former WBA champion returned fire today citing the Cronulla Sharks peptide controversy.

"I've got no problem with the testing and I actually encourage it because I think he's going to be on something," Browne told News Corp.

"I hope the testing happens, I want it to happen."

Browne's rise to the top of the heavyweight division was short-lived after he knocked out Ruslan Chagaev in 2016 to win the WBA belt. He became the first and only Australian to hold a major heavyweight title, but it was all ripped away after he tested positive to banned substance Clenbuterol. Browne appealed the positive result and it was eventually overturned and his belt was reinstated.

However, months later he tested positive again for a different substance, an act of "stupidity" he said.

"The second time I got done was just my stupidity. I went to a supplement shop and said 'Give me the best pre-workout you've got'. Obviously it had banned substances in it, so I looked like the biggest idiot on the planet, and I can take that because I did it to myself, it's no one else's fault.

"But now it looks like I'm a two-time drug cheat for really not doing anything, I haven't cheated whatsoever."

Browne added he's been tested several times since part of the WBC clean boxing program, and has plans on fighting overseas after he takes on Gallen and Justis Huni at home this year.

He said the type of money Gallen and Hall made for their fight made him pay attention. Browne will be paid $130,000 for this fight, while Gallen is expected to receive more than $400,000.

"They're getting paid something like $400,000 and my biggest payday in Australia was $25,000, and my world title was only $250,000 and that was before percentages, so I only took half of that home," Browne said.

"These guys are doing four two-minute rounds and getting double what I got for a world title, so I wanted to be part of that action."