By Miguel Rivera
Everything indicates that the special belt that the World Boxing Council, that was being designed for the May 5 fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, with a Chiapas textile specially designed for the date, will end up being awareded to the winner of the fight between Wanheng Menayothin and Leroy Estrada - which takes place in Thailand.
According to the president of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman, when considered the recent decisions by the Nevada State Athletic Commission - it is almost impossible for him to see Canelo and Golovkin facing other at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 5, and for that reason he believes that he will end up sending the commemorative belt to Asian soil.
Because he tested positive for clenbuterol in two separate drug tests which were administered last month, Canelo is under a temporary suspension from the NSAC and he's been ordered to state his case at a hearing on April 18 in Las Vegas.
"We had a lot of enthusiasm for the presentation of the new belt, we were about to announce the three belt options that came adorned with a wonderful textile Chiapanec craftsmanship, and as the last time the fans were going to choose the belt that was going to be delivered on May 5 in Las Vegas," said Sulaiman to ESPN Deportes.
"But as we see things, after they postponed the hearing from April 10 to 18, they have practically closed the the path on what the promoter could accomplish and in two weeks it is difficult to organize a fight, everything indicates that there will be no fight between Canelo and Golovkin on May 5."
With this on the table and awaiting the final decision of the Nevada Commission, the WBC could award this special belt to the the fight between Menayothin, who is the WBC minimumweight champion, and the mandatory challenger Estrada. The Thai boxer, should he win, will equal the professional record of Floyd Mayweather of 50-0.
"Should the May 5 fight fall through with Canelo, we will direct the belt to Thailand. Menayothin is our WBC minimumweight champion, he's going for a very significant record and has a good opponent in the Panamanian Leroy Estrada, but let's wait to see what the Nevada Commission says," Sulaiman said.
2023-10-20 17:23:52
