Golden Boy Promotions, who represent prominent Mexican boxer Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, held a press conference today announcing that the highly anticipated rematch between Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin on May 5th has been canceled. During the press conference, Golden Boy President Eric Gamez, sitting next to Chairman/CEO Oscar De La Hoya, announced that both Alvarez and Golden Boy thought it best for Alvarez to pull out of the fight, believing that Alvarez’ April 18th hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to determine the extension to Alverez’ current suspension will likely not go in his favor.
Alvarez is likely facing a six-month suspension, which would be added retroactively from the time of the failed examinations which occurred in February. This leaves open the possibility for the fight to possibly be rescheduled September 16th weekend, a popular boxing PPV holiday. At the time of this writing, there are no indications from either camp of this occurring, however.
Canelo’s camp in recent months has dealt with controversy over two failed tests administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (widely known as the most rigorous drug testing laboratory in the world) where the banned substance clenbuterol was found in both of Alvarez’ examinations. When the results were made public, Canelo’s camp was quick to insist that their fighter was clean and to point out that the results of the tests were from meat he consumed in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Mexican athletes have had a history of showing traces amounts of clenbuterol as Mexican producers popularly inject their cattle to reduce fat and make their meat leaner. In 2011, Mexico’s entire national soccer team tested positive for the substance and the NFL and other countries visiting Mexico have announced warnings of consuming Mexican meat to their athletes in the past.
After the initial reports of Alvarez’ failed tests, Golovkin’s called Alvarez and De La Hoya “longtime cheaters,” which may have prompted the Nevada State Athletic Commission to take action against Alvarez and to ultimately kill the fight.
Golovkin earlier tweeted that he intends to fight May 5th and an opponent would be announced relatively soon.
I will be defending my titles on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas!
Official announcement coming soon! pic.twitter.com/ewsXojzBdv— Gennady Golovkin (@GGGBoxing) April 3, 2018
Golovkin’s potential May 5th opponents may include a rematch against Danny Jacobs or a fight with Sergiy Derevyanchenko, who is a mandatory challenger for Golovkin’s IBF middleweight belt.
In September 2017, Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a controversial tie where many believed Golovkin (even us) had won the fight.
