Boxing’s projected fight of the year is officially off.
Lawyers for Mexican fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez told reporters Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles that his planned rematch with Gennady Golovkin has been canceled.
“Canelo and his attorney speaking to media at Golden Boy offices in LA and announce the May 5 fight with GGG is off!” wrote ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
Alvarez had failed two tests for the performance-enhancing drug Clenbuterol in February, which he and his promoters blamed on eating contaminated meat in Mexico.
But the Nevada State Athletic Commission — the fight had been set for May 5 in Las Vegas — refused to give him a mulligan, instead formally filing a complaint, kicking off a process that could lead to his worldwide suspension and, regardless of the outcome, could not possibly wrap up before May 5.
“I am truly shocked by what has happened and I am lament this has caused people to have doubts about my integrity. I have always been a clean fighter,” Alvarez said in a prepared statement.
Golovkin’s promoters had said Monday that, regardless of Alvarez doping charges, their man would be in Las Vegas on May 5 to fight and were reportedly shopping for an opponent.
The NSAC will hold a hearing April 18 to determine whether to reduce Alvarez’s suspension to six months. The hope in his camp is for that to happen so Canelo-GGG 2 can happen the weekend of Mexican Independence Day, instead of the now-canceled Cinco de Mayo.
The two men, each of whom holds pieces of the middleweight title and is a plausible contender for best pound-for-fighter in the world, fought last year, but the bout ended in a heavily criticized 12-round draw.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.
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