Alvarez cancels Golovkin rematch

SAUL “Canelo” Alvarez on Tuesday withdrew from his rematch against middleweight rival Gennady Golovkin over his failed drugs test but is optimistic the fight can be rescheduled later this year.

At a press conference in Los Angeles, Alvarez’s promoters Golden Boy said the likely suspension for the failed tests made it impossible to stage the May 5 bout in Las Vegas.

“We’re going to have to cancel the May 5 rematch,” Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez said. “We’ve been advised that given the regulations in Nevada it’s unlikely that Canelo will be cleared to fight in May.

“We’re hoping that Canelo will be cleared to fight in the summer, a l l owing us t o reschedule the fight in August or September.”

‘Will always be clean’

Mexican star Alvarez, who was already under suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, insisted he was a “clean fighter”.

“I am truly shocked about what has happened, and for those who have doubts and suspicions about my integrity, I have always been and always will be a clean fighter,” Alvarez said through an interpreter.

“I want to apologise to . . . everyone who is involved in the promotion of this event and especially to the fans. I respect this sport. I will always be a clean fighter.”

Alvarez and Golovkin fought to a controversial draw in their first meeting in Las Vegas last September, a fight most neutrals believed unified champion Golovkin had won.

Their rematch at the T-Mobile Arena next month was expected to be one of the biggest fights of 2018 but was thrown into uncertainty after it emerged Alvarez had tested positive for Clenbuterol on February 17 and 20.

T he f i g ht wa s i n i t i a l l y expected to go ahead but was placed in jeopardy when the Nevada commission temporarily suspended Alvarez on March 23 a nd set a hea ring date for April 10.

Nevada commission execut ive d i re c tor Bob Ben net t subsequent ly f i led a for mal compla i nt aga i nst A lv a rez request i ng t hat aut hor it ies consider a formal suspension against the Mexican fighter at a reg ularly scheduled meeting on April 18.

The T-Mobile Arena has a l re a d y s t a r t e d o f f e r i n g refunds for tickets to the fight, venue owner MGM Resorts International said.