By Sean Jones: The Saul Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin rematch is still on for May 5th, but the MGM Resorts International has reportedly begun to offer full ticket refunds for the boxing fans that purchased tickets for the May 5th Canelo-GGG 2 fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight could be canceled, and the MGM is jumping ahead in case it is. Canelo has already been given a temporary suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It’s not looking good, folks.
In addition to MGM Resorts International making refunds available to fans, HBO is no longer advertising the Canelo-Golovkin 2 fight on their schedule for upcoming boxing events. The fight looks like it’s in serious jeopardy right now. Golovkin still wants to fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 5 if Canelo receives a 6 to 12 month suspension by the Commission, so it’s not all bad for the city of Las Vegas and for the boxing fans that were looking forward to seeing the Canelo-GGG 2 rematch on HBO PPV on the night. If Golovkin fights someone else on May 5th, it will likely be shown on regular HBO and not on PPV. There’s no one popular enough for Golovkin to fight on PPV for the May 5th date, and he’s not a PPV fighter like Canelo despite being very popular.
The Nevada Commission’s regulations about positive drug tests suggest that Canelo might not be able to escape being suspended further when he meets or speaks with the agency during their April 10th hearing. This is part of the agency’s regulations:
“It is the duty of each unarmed combatant to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his or her body … . To establish a violation of this section, it is not necessary to establish that the unarmed combatant intentionally, knowingly or negligently used a prohibited substance, or that the unarmed combatant is otherwise at fault for the use of a prohibited substance.”
Just going by the Nevada Commissions’ regulations, they could suspend Canelo at their April 10th hearing and stop the May 5th rematch from taking place. The boxing world wants to see the Canelo-GGG 2 fight, but the Commission has to do their job and make the decision they feel that’s right, whether that be to clear Canelo or suspend him further.
The ultimate fate of the Canelo vs. Golovkin rematch won’t be determined until the Nevada Athletics Commission meets on April 10th for their hearing on the suspended Canelo’s two positive drug tests last February. Canelo tested positive on 2 occasions [February 17 and February 20] for the banned substance clenbuterol. The 2 positive tests showed trace levels of clenbuterol in Canelo’s system. While some boxing fans believe is a clear sign that Canelo’s positive tests were from him eating contaminated meat, the Nevada Commission hasn’t yet confirmed that to be the case. They’re still investigating. However, even a fighter testing positive trace amounts of a banned drug is enough for him to be suspended. In the past, some boxers have been allowed to still fight after they tested positive for clenbuterol. They used the excuse that they had eaten contaminated meat that contained the substance. However, the Nevada Commission has reportedly updated their rules as of 2016, and they now leave it up to the fighter to be responsible for what they put in their body. This doesn’t mean the Commission won’t ultimately clear Canelo and allow him to take the GGG fight on May 5, but it’s not looking good right now.
“If a fan requests a refund for the Canelo-GGG 2 fight they may receive one, in full, at the original point of purchase,” an MGM Resorts International spokesman said to ESPN.com.
If the fight happens, Canelo (49-1-2, 34 KOs) vs. Golovkin will be televised by HBO PPV on May 5. The two fought last September with the fight being ruled a 12 round draw. The second fight unfortunately is in jeopardy due to Canelo’s positive tests for clenbuterol.
Canelo, 27, is still training as if he’s going to be allowed to take the rematch with GGG on May 5. In a brief clip posted by Golden Boy Promotions on Wednesday, Canelo was seen working out and not looking concerned worried.
This is what Golden Boy Promotions posted on their Twitter account on Wednesday about Canelo:
“Business as usual in training camp. Canelo working the heavy bag under the watchful eye of (trainer Eddy Reynoso).”
Obviously, that post by Golden Boy was to calm boxing fans that are worried about the Canelo-Golovkin 2 fight being in jeopardy. But with the news of MGM Resorts International offering full ticket refunds to boxing fans, it suggests that there are is a real possibility the May 5th Canelo vs. Golovkin rematch could be canceled by the Nevada Commission.
The Nevada Commission is going to be giving Canelo, 27, a chance to explain the situation behind his 2 positive tests for clenbuterol at the April 10th full hearing. Canelo could either be there in person to speak with the Commission to talk to them on the photo. According to Dan Rafael, Canelo and/or his legal team can talk about his positive tests and give an explanation. There are 5 members of the Nevada Commission that will then take a vote to decide whether to let the Canelo vs. Golovkin 2 fight take place on May 5th or not. It the Canelo-GGG 2 rematch isn’t allowed to take place on May 5, then Canelo’s suspension will be extended.
Canelo’s excuse of having eaten contaminated meat could hold water with the Nevada Commission, as there’s a real problem in Mexico with cattle producers using clenbuterol to lean out the muscle of their cattle. Canelo’s positive test levels for the substance were low enough for them to be consistent with him possibly eaten contaminated beef in Mexico. The good news for Canelo is he’s tested negatively for VADA’s four tests since his 2 positive tests last February. In Canelo’s last four VADA conducted tests on March 3, 5, 9 and 17, he’s tested negative for clenbuterol. But, Canelo’s two positive tests for the substance could be more than enough for the Nevada Commission to cancel the fight. While the positive tests from February could indicate that Canelo ate contaminated meat, but they also could show that he was using the substance to try and gain an advantage over Golovkin. A fighter testing positive for trace levels for clenbuterol could indicate that they ate contaminated meat or it could show that they possibly were using the drug knowingly to gain an advantage. That makes it difficult for the Nevada Commission to decide whether to clear Canelo or not.
Canelo could potentially receive a 1-year suspension for his 2 positive tests for clenbuterol. According to the Commission’s regulations, the suspension for testing positive for clenbuterol is 1 year. That’s for fighters that are testing positive for the first time. If Canelo is given a 1-year suspension by the Nevada Commission, it’ll keep him out of action for the remainder of 2018. Since Canelo only fights on the two Mexican holidays in May and September, he would be out of action until next year, 14 months from now in May 2019. Canelo would be nearing 29-years-old by that time. That’s not old obviously for a fighter, but given the inactivity and a long drug suspension, Canelo’s boxing career would be very uncertain. Would Canelo be willing to face Golovkin in a rematch in May 2019 or would he insist on taking a tune-up fight or two before he faces him? If Canelo needs a tune-up before facing Golovkin, then we’re probably looking at the Canelo-GGG 2 fight not taking until September 2019. That’s a full 2 years since their first fight in September 2017. I’m sure the boxing public will still like to see Canelo and Golovkin face each other at that time, but things might be very different. Golovkin will be 37-years-old by late 2019, and it’s unknown whether he’ll still be unbeaten. Golovkin expects to fight 2 times at the minimum in 2018, and he’s likely fight in early 2019. Golovkin will have likely fought 3 times before he faces Canelo in late September 2019 if Canelo receives a 1-year suspension and chooses not to face Golovkin in May 2019.