Updated: Canelo Busted for PEDs, Rematch with GGG at Risk
September 2017’s Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady “GGG” Golovkin boxing match could’ve been an instant classic. Two champions fighting for the unified WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, IBO, Ring magazine, and lineal middleweight championships. Both are in the primes and both considered the best fighters of the modern era. Unfortunately, the fight ended with a controversial split draw (113–115, 114–114, 118–110). The Twitterverse and boxing fans (rightfully so) directed their anger towards one person, Judge Adalaide Bryd. Bryd’s 118-110 score wasn’t in line with the close fight. An Alvarez vs. Golovkin rematch was almost guaranteed. Thankfully, the rematch has been signed. Canelo and GGG will fight in Las Vegas on May 5, 2018.
Rematch Will Be Epic
Eric Gomez, the president of Golden Boy Promotions told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times “there will not be a rematch clause in the deal,” unlike the initial fight. Alvarez, 27, is 49-1-2 on his career with 34 knockouts. Golovkin, 35, is 37-0-1 with 33 knockouts and currently holds the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBC world middleweight titles. Gomez added, “It’s going to be another great fight, so it’ll likely be a natural to do another rematch, but it’s not in the agreement.” “We want to concentrate on getting this [second Alvarez-Golovkin fight] done and then we can talk about a third fight later.
Alvarez/Golovkin I surpassed Mayweather-Álvarez to become the third-highest gate in boxing history. ESPN reported the fight generated over $27 million from ticket sales. The replay ton HBO one week later averaged 726,000, peaking at 840,000 viewers. The belief is that PPV buys for the fight exceeded $100 million, although HBO didn’t make an official announcement. If you need a reminder of the fallout from ‘Fight no.1’ Max Kellerman discussed the controversial decision on the September 18 edition of on First Take.
Update on Alvarez vs. Golovkin Rematch
On March 5, middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez tested positive for low levels of a banned substance called Clenbuterol. Alvarez’s statement to the media was, “I am an athlete who respects the sport and this surprises me and bothers me because it had never happened to me.” “I will submit to all the tests that require me to clarify this embarrassing situation and I trust that at the end the truth will prevail.”
Golden Boy (Alvarez’s promoters) claimed the positive test was due to meat contamination. They also said that contaminated food has impacted dozens of athletes in Mexico in recent years. Great, so not only can’t you drink the Mexican water, now we can’t eat the meat. Triple GGG’s reaction to Canelo’s positive test was, ‘Really?’ It was just like that, ‘Really, are you serious?'” Golovkin told ESPN. “I know him, he’s a good boxer. Maybe he’s an extra boxer and not a regular guy. I believe that he doesn’t need medicals or drugs or anything like that. “But right now, when he tests positive, it’s terrible for the sport. I respect my sport because I love a clean sport. For me this is not a laboratory, it’s natural stuff.”
The impact of the failed test on the Alvarez vs. Golovkin rematch is yet to be determined.