After much anticipation, Gennady Golovkin’s replacement opponent has been finalized and Canelo Alvarez’s fate has been decided after testing positive for a banned substance.
Now taking place at the Stub Hub Arena in Carson, Golovkin will defend the WBC, WBA, and IBO world middleweight titles against two-time world title challenger Vanes Martirosyan. Lance Pugmire of the LA Times reports that the IBF refused to sanction the bout.
In a prepared press release, Golovkin says Martirosyan is now the most important fight of his career and he’s looking forward to another “big drama show.”
“Vanes Martirosyan is now the most important fight of my career. He has my respect and I am training hard to defend my titles against him,” said Golovkin. “I am happy to be back on HBO and fighting at StubHub Center because they have great boxing fans. I will give my fans another big drama show.”
Martirosyan, who is promoted by Don King, last fought in May 2016 against former light middleweight champion Erislandy Lara. Despite the lengthy absence from the ring, Martirosyan told the LA Times he’s ready for the last minute assignment.
“I’ve been training my ass off. I’m sparring, I’m on weight,” Martirosyan recently told the Los Angeles Times. “When they asked me if I’d take this fight, I said yes. I didn’t ask about money at all. It’s a good show for L.A. Cinco De Mayo. Armenians will pack the place. I have a lot of Mexican fans. I do believe in my heart I’m going to beat (Golovkin) because he’s never fought someone with my style.”
A busy Wednesday in boxing news, the Nevada State Athletic Commission announced that Golovkin’s former opponent Canelo Alvarez will be suspended for six months after testing positive for the banned substance clenbuterol according to ESPN.
That was a quick hearing. The Nevada State Athletic Commission and Canelo Alvarez’s team reached an adjudication agreement before Wednesday’s hearing and it was adopted unanimously (5-0) by the commission: Canelo gets a one-year suspension, but because he has cooperated it is suspended to six months, as per the commission rules allow. He will eligible to fight Aug. 17, six months from the date of his first positive test. This means he can fight a rematch with middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin in September assuming GGG defeats substitute opponent Vanes Martirosyan on May 5.
Following the NSAC’s ruling, Alvarez’s promoter Golden Boy Boxing issued the following statement.
“As we have maintained all along, the trace amounts of clenbuterol found in Canelo’s system in February came from meat contamination, and we provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission with a great deal of evidence to support those facts.Although most professional sports, international anti-doping agencies and United States boxing commissions treat meat contamination differently from other positive tests, Nevada does not. Canelo and Golden Boy Promotions respect the rules of Nevada and are therefore satisfied with the settlement agreement reached today.“Canelo looks forward to returning to the ring in September for Mexican Independence Day weekend to represent Mexico and boxing in what will be the sport’s biggest event of the year. He is ready to continue his remarkable record of fighting at the highest level.