By Radio Rahim
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom is shaking his head at the six month suspension that was given to Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
Last week, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Canelo for a pair of drug tests that came up positive for the banned substance clenbuterol in February.
The suspension forced Canelo to withdraw from a planned HBO Pay-Per-View rematch with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, which was scheduled to take place on May 5th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Because the suspension is retroactive with the date of Canelo's failed tests, he will be capable of fighting against by August - and it turn would allow him to fight Golovkin in September during Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Hearn believes the length of Canelo's boxing ban will do little to scare off other boxers who are considering the use of performance enhancing drugs.
Across the pond in the UK, the drug testing regulations are very strict when it comes to their boxers.
Several years ago, heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte was suspended for two years, after using an energy drink - bought from a normal nutrition shop - which happened to contain a banned substance.
"The problem with the six month ban is, it doesn't send a tough enough message to people who are thinking about cheating. 'What if I get caught, it's only six months.' That's not even a fight. But that's life. It revolves around money and politics. A high profile fighter like Canelo is going to be treated differently to a six round fighter. A six round fighter.. maybe he gets three years," Hearn told BoxingScene.com.
"Look at Dillian Whyte. About five years ago with a pre-workout drink and it was just off the shelf... and what did they give him - two years. Canelo gets caught with clenbuterol and he gets six months."
2023-10-20 21:28:49
