Facing an extension of the temporary suspension he is already under from the Nevada State Athletic Commission because of two doping violations, a contrite Canelo Alvarez withdrew on Tuesday from his highly anticipated rematch with unified middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin.
Alvarez and Golovkin were scheduled to meet again on May 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a rematch of the controversial draw most thought Golovkin won in September at the same venue. However, Alvarez twice tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug clenbuterol in random urine tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico on Feb. 17 and Feb. 20.
"We're going to have to cancel the May 5 rematch," Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez at the beginning of a press conference at the company's offices in downtown Los Angeles. "As you all know there is a hearing on April 18 and it's extremely unlikely this will get resolved by then properly and we need enough time to promote this fight."
Alvarez proclaimed himself a clean fighter but said he was ready to take his punishment from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"I am truly shocked about what has happened and for those who have doubts and suspicions about my integrity I have always been and always will be clean fighter," Alvarez said in his first public comments about the situation other than a brief statement he made two weeks ago when the positive test results were announced. "I want to apologize to HBO, (sponsors) Tecate and Hennessy and all my other sponsors, the media and to everyone who is involved in the promotion of this event and especially to the fans. I respect this sport. I will always be a clean fighter."
Alvarez claimed the positive tests were from eating contaminated beef in Mexico, where that has been a problem for many athletes because clenbuterol is often used by farmers in cattle feed. However, Nevada commission rules are clear that the athlete is responsible for what is in his system whether it is there on purpose or by accident.
So Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs), 27, of Mexico, elected to withdraw from the fight and perhaps create some goodwill with the commission before it is likely to suspend him for at least one year at a hearing scheduled on April 18 in Las Vegas.
This is Alvarez's first offense, which usually nets a one-year suspension, but if he cooperates with the commission it is within its rules to reduce the suspension to six months. If Alvarez's suspension is cut to six months -- and it is retroactive to Feb. 17, the date of the first positive test -- he would eligible to box again on Aug. 18. That would allow for the rematch with Golovkin to be rescheduled on the Mexican Independence Day weekend in mid-September, which is when they had their fight last year.
However, Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) still plans to fight an opponent to be determined on May 5 (with the fight moving from T-Mobile Arena to the smaller MGM Grand Garden Arena) and would have to retain his belts to keep the prospect of the fall rematch alive.
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