Scarcely little more intrigue needed to be added ahead of the rematch between Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin, the two middleweights that drew their exhilarating first title fight almost exactly a year ago, but the rumblings of a doping scandal has done just that.
The Mexican subsequently twice tested positive for the presence of Clenbuterol, a banned steroid, blaming it on accidentally consuming contaminated beef in his homeland.
That scandal caused great discord between the camps of the two fighters and GGG said in yesterday’s final press conference that his younger rivals explanation doesn’t wash with him.
“I’m not believe him...I don’t believe his stories about contaminated meat. I think it’s all nonsense. I don’t like to hear these kind of stories about contaminated meat,” he said.
Nor does he have time for those who are willing to show leniency or support to his opponent, telling the film crew that’s been tailing him for a documentary: “The people who support him and stand by him are swindlers, just like him.”
But the Kazakh, a relentless puncher who is undefeated with a record of 39-0-1 and holds all but one belt in the middleweight division, was keen to stress that he is ready for Sunday morning’s bout, come what may.
“I say every time I’m ready for anybody. For me it doesn’t matter...I’m ready for fight...Just I’m ready for him bring doping, him don’t use doping, you know? If commission brings him, I’m ready. If commission not bring him, ok, no fight.”
Álvarez was, the younger man at 28, had little time for those barbs from his 36-year-old opponent.
“Those are the kicks and screams of someone who is drowning. Those are the excuses they are making for what is coming this Saturday, which is a loss for them. If I would’ve had something the authorities would’ve picked it up.”
The bookmakers chalk up the outcome of the main event at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena as being a little more difficult to predict than that, with the Kazakh a marginal favourite.
@GGGBoxing says @Canelo is a "different guy" since failing a doping test for clenbuterol - but says both men still have respect for each other... 👇
#Boxing #CaneloGGG2
