So it is finally official, the news many expected following the reveal that Mexican 2-weight world champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez tested positive for Clenbuterol on February 17 and February 20.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has withdrawn from the most eagerly anticipated fight of 2018.
The heavily hyped rematch with the undefeated unified world middleweight kingpin, Gennady Golovkin.
Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez made the announcement officially during a press conference at Golden Boy’s headquarters in Los Angeles today.
BREAKING: #CaneloGGG2 officially off after the Mexican star withdraws from fight following failed tests https://t.co/QAoajk1y9b
— Bible of Boxing (@ringmagazine) April 3, 2018
Gomez did state that is hopeful that Alvarez-Golovkin rematch could be rescheduled for August or September.
However, that remains to be seen because Alvarez could be suspended for up to a year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission who have already temporarily suspend the Mexican and could extend that at a formal committee hearing on April 18.
The most hotly anticipated boxing match of the year was meant to be taking place in just over a month’s time.
Gennady Golovkin was scheduled to again, put his unified WBC, WBA, IBF and IBO world middleweight titles on the line.
It had become one of the most debatable fights of the current era when they both met in September 2017.
Many were looking forward to witnessing a conclusive end to the ongoing saga.
However, in mid-February, those plans were thrown into disarray when the Mexican tested positive for trace levels of the substance, Clenbuterol.
.@Canelo on @GGGBoxing’s remarks: “What Golovkin and his team say doesn’t bother me at all. they’re not doctors, they’re not experts. Sounds like an excuse of him not wanting to fight me to be honest. Like he’s scared.” #CaneloGGG2
— Bible of Boxing (@ringmagazine) April 3, 2018
It is highly probable that Mexico’s Alvarez will have to potentially face up to a year-long imposed hiatus from the squared circle on April 18.
But whatever happens regarding the Mexican. Golovkin’s promoter is insistent their plans to fight on Cinco De Mayo will go ahead.
“GGG wants to fight on May 5 in Las Vegas.”
“So in order to do that. We have to go through the commission procedure and the official process,” Loeffler told ESPN on Monday.
“Anyone who booked a plane ticket or who was planning to come to Las Vegas for Cinco de Mayo weekend to see GGG fight.”
GGG meet Triple H!#AndreTheGiantpic.twitter.com/SBiswBAyRZ
— Gennadiy Golovkin (@GGGBoxing) March 30, 2018
“Don’t cancel your ticket because we’re planning a GGG fight on May 5. Whether it’s against Canelo or somebody else.”
“We’re weighing all the options right now,” Loeffler concluded.
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