TnS Boxing Podcast #61 – PED Talk on TnS – It may be the most controversial topic in all of sports, yet it is rarely talked about. Steroids and PEDS on the TnS Podcast.
Recently, the Nevada State Commission that oversees combat sports levied a six month suspension on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Alvarez had been scheduled to face Gennady Golovkin on May 5th in Las Vegas in a big money rematch but the suspension means the fight has fallen by the wayside. Instead of a fight with potential to be the biggest PPV of 2018, HBO is left with a lukewarm offering of Golovkin facing Vanes Martirosyan in what amounts to a “Cinco de Mayo” with no Mexican in the main event.
Perhaps boxing casuals may say “poor Canelo” as his reputation has taken a hit and is out a fight with it’s related big payday. The mirage that the Nevada Commission stepped in to make an example out of Alvarez is in place for the masses.
Alvarez backed out of the fight several days before the commission’s announcement. He popped up on social media after a procedure to clean out his knee, a recovery that is now set to coincide with his six month suspension. He and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya are sticking by their story that Alvarez ate tainted meat and they seemed to be endorsed by the WBC, who after their bureaucratic theatrics decided to not punish Alvarez at all.
Interestingly, the Nevada commission issued no monetary fine. At the end of the day, it is a business and it is all about money so the lack of a fine in this case gives it the appearance that Alvarez got off lightly.
Golovkin is going to get by Martirosyan. If he doesn’t then the fight with Alvarez will never happen. But Martirosyan has been chosen with care. He is coming off a two year layoff and though he has some skill, he is coming up a weight class and was never considered a big puncher in the first place. Unless the wheels were getting ready to come off Golovkin’s career now, he will be there when Alvarez’ suspension is up come September.
So sometime in September, we are probably going to get the Canelo vs Triple G rematch that we should be getting next week. Alvarez, with his freshly cleaned knee, will fight under a lot of scrutiny, but in the twisted world of sports, the steroid hullabaloo will likely serve to make the fight even bigger when it does happen.
Golovkin turned 36 at the start of April. If he was the same age as Alvarez, Triple G might want to wait to do the rematch, forcing Alvarez to prove himself after the suspension.
PEDS have boxing and indeed the entire sports world in a frenzy. It seems like the policing of PED use is way behind and there may actually be no way to catch-up. After listening, ask yourself – should PED use be allowed, with resources going towards medical supervision instead of a flawed network of sample collection that is the current process?
TnS Boxing Podcast #61 – PED Talk on TnS / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
[related_post_one]
The NBA playoffs are bringing the heat. Get all your basketball here.
