Gennady Golovkin made it clear to reporters that he thinks Saul “Canelo” Alverez is a cheater, but GGG says he still plans on fighting Alverez in their highly anticipated rematch on May 5.
The comments from GGG stem from Alvarez’s positive test for clenbuterol, a performance-enhancing drug. Those tests, which came in February, were conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Tainted Meat or Intentional Doping?
Alvarez has said that the trace amounts of clenbuterol found in his system came from tainted meat. This is a legitimate issue for Mexican athletes, as while clenbuterol is prohibited for use by farmers in the United States, the substance is used in cattle feed in Mexico to reduce fat and produce more lean muscle in animals.
But while cross-contamination in humans is possible, Golovkin told reporters at his training came in Big Bear Lake, California that he doesn’t buy that explanation.
“Again with Mexican meat? Come on,” Golovkin said. “This is Canelo. This is his team. This is his promotion. Canelo is cheating. They’re using these drugs, and everybody is just trying to pretend it’s not happening.”
GGG Says Canelo, De La Hoya Fight ‘Dirty’
Golovkin expanded on those comments by saying that he not only thought Canelo was doping, but also that International Boxing Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya, who now serves as the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions (the firm that promotes Alvarez), had the same issues.
“Before the first fight, I knew he was not clean,” GGG said. “I can talk about Oscar De La Hoya too. He is also not clean. He’s dirty.”
Despite all of the accusations, Golovkin told ESPN that he will still fight Alvarez, assuming that the Nevada State Athletic Commission allows the bout to go on. He also referenced photos and videos that he and his promoter, Tom Loeffler, say they have received that appear to show injection marks on Alvarez’s abdomen.
“What did he inject in his belly? What are the marks on his belly? Look at the photos,” Golovkin said. “These questions should be asked of the commission.”
Alvarez’s camp strongly denied the assertion that their fighter has done anything wrong. According to Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions, Alvarez has tested negative for any banned substances three times since the positive result, and more tests are underway.
Gomez told ESPN that he thought GGG may be trying to find a way out of the May 5 fight.
“If that’s what he wants, he should just say so,” Gomez told ESPN. “The remarks about the needle marks, the remarks about Oscar, the defamatory things he said, we’ll deal with them appropriately.”
Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) and Alvarez (49-1-2, 34 KOs) fought to a controversial split decision draw last September. While the fight was close, most observers felt that GGG had done enough to earn a win by decision. But one judge submitted a card that had Alvarez winning 118-110, a decision that seemed inexplicable to boxing fans and experts.
Bookmakers are expecting another competitive battle in May. GGG is a -189 favorite at bwin, with Alvarez listed at +150 to win the fight.
