Saul “Canelo” Alavarez picked up the biggest victory of his career last November when he scored a decision win over veteran Miguel Cotto to become the WBC middleweight champion. With Alvarez’s victory, fans had hoped that we would be treated to the biggest fight boxing has to offer: a showdown between Alvarez and then interim
Saul “Canelo” Alavarez picked up the biggest victory of his career last November when he scored a decision win over veteran Miguel Cotto to become the WBC middleweight champion.
With Alvarez’s victory, fans had hoped that we would be treated to the biggest fight boxing has to offer: a showdown between Alvarez and then interim WBC, WBA, IBO, and IBF middleweight title holder Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.
Golovkin, a feared knockout artist, was the mandatory challenger to “Canelo’s” throne, but the two sides ultimately agreed to take interim bouts in the meantime.
“GGG” would go on to starch a relative unknown mandatory challenger in Dominic Wade in just two rounds last month, and Alvarez recently knocked out former 147-pound title holder Amir “King” Khan on May 7th in Las Vegas.
With both men coming out victorious, the WBC set a timetable for the two to come to a deal regarding a fight, and if an agreement wasn’t come to by the set deadline, “Canelo” would be stripped of his title.
That deadline has yet to occur, but Alvarez announced today (May 18, 2016) that he would be vacating his title, claiming that he wouldn’t be forced into the ring under any terms aside from the ones he sets for himself.
In a statement released earlier today, “Canelo” explained the situation while also noting that he plans to continue negotiations with Golovkin in hopes of making the fight happen:
“After much consideration, today, I instructed my team at Golden Boy Promotions to continue negotiating a fight with Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin and to finalize a deal as quickly as possible,” Alvarez said in press release (Via Bad Left Hook).
“I also informed the WBC that I will vacate its title. For the entirety of my career, I have taken the fights that no one wanted because I fear no man. Never has that been more true than today. I will fight ‘GGG,’ and I will beat ‘GGG’ but I will not be forced into the ring by artificial deadlines. I am hopeful that by putting aside this ticking clock, the two teams can now negotiate this fight, and ‘GGG’ and I can get in the ring as soon as possible and give the fans the fight they want to see.”
Alvarez’s promoter and head of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, reiterated the idea that “Canelo” is without question interested in doing battle with “GGG”:
“There is no denying that Canelo is the biggest star in the sport of boxing. He is eager to get in the ring with ‘GGG’ to show the world that he is also the best pound for pound fighter in the sport, but we won’t negotiate under a forced deadline,” said De La Hoya. “Now that the WBC title is off the table, I am hopeful that ‘GGG’ and his promoter K2 Promotions will come to the table in good faith and get this deal done.”
In the aftermath of Alvarez vacating his title, the WBC has officially promoted Golovkin to be their undisputed middleweight champion of the world.
At the risk of lapsing into conspiracy-mode, the timing of resignation is undeniably suspicious. The UFC just announced that Vitor Belfort vs. Chris Weidman was going to take place in Las Vegas, and Kizer was previously on record saying “I don’t see Vitor Belfort getting a TRT exemption from us.” However, that stance had recently changed. It’s hard to accept that this was Kizer’s decision alone.
In honor of his resignation, I thought it would be a good time to look back a few moments from Keith Kizer’s career that will define his legacy…
“Just because a judge’s scorecard ends up even, doesn’t mean the judge necessarily thought the fight as a whole was even,” Kizer said. “It could be that a judge has six rounds for each fighter, but the six rounds she gave fighter A, she gave them to him easily and the six rounds she gave fighter B, they were really close rounds. That’s pretty much how it was last night.”
At the risk of lapsing into conspiracy-mode, the timing of resignation is undeniably suspicious. The UFC just announced that Vitor Belfort vs. Chris Weidman was going to take place in Las Vegas, and Kizer was previously on record saying “I don’t see Vitor Belfort getting a TRT exemption from us.” However, that stance had recently changed. It’s hard to accept that this was Kizer’s decision alone.
In honor of his resignation, I thought it would be a good time to look back a few moments from Keith Kizer’s career that will define his legacy…
“Just because a judge’s scorecard ends up even, doesn’t mean the judge necessarily thought the fight as a whole was even,” Kizer said. “It could be that a judge has six rounds for each fighter, but the six rounds she gave fighter A, she gave them to him easily and the six rounds she gave fighter B, they were really close rounds. That’s pretty much how it was last night.”
While the points about the problem with the scoring system as generally valid, in that fight that wasn’t the case. Mayweather clearly won at least 10 rounds by a decent margin. This comment combined with his relentless defense of his employees (See: Mazzagatti, Steve) shows you the best and worst of Keith Kizer. On one hand he had a problem admitting when there was a problem. On the other hand he was loyal to his employees, and publicly protected them.
I would love to work for Kizer. No matter how many times I screwed up and was blasted by UFC commentator Joe Rogan, my hypothetical job would be safe.
After Lamont Peterson failed his VADA drug test for exogenous testosterone in May 2012, Kizer had this to say:
BoxingScene.com: If VADA was not involved, a lot of people have asked if this was something that the Nevada Commission would have caught in Peterson’s system?
Keith Kizer: Probably not from the facts that I know. His [testosterone] level, by his doctor, was kept under 4 to 1, which is the lowest level used… some use 4 to 1 and some use 6 to 1. Even VADA uses 4 to 1, but they also use this CIR [carbon isotope ratio] test to detect synthetic testosterone regardless of your level and that’s what happened here.
My understanding is that his level was 3.77 to 1… and I don’t know if that was a purposeful attempt to conceal [his use] by keeping it under 4 to 1 or not. That’s a question for someone else and not for me. But regardless, the CIR was able to catch it without the level being high.
Here Kizer is essentially admitting that the testing that Nevada does is insufficient, though not directly. He is saying that it is possible Peterson was manipulating his testosterone levels, and that Nevada wouldn’t have caught him. Had it not been for VADA, Peterson’s use of testosterone would have gone undetected.
The introduction of commission-led supplemental testing
The October 2013 fight between Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez was once in jeopardy due to a disagreement over which supplemental drug testing agency was going to be chosen to perform the drug testing for that fight. That issue was resolved when Top Rank CEO Bob Arum contacted Kizer to run random drug testing through NSAC.
In MMA this testing was proposed as an alternative solution for the GSP vs. Hendricks fight, although ultimately it was rejected. It was also used as a punitive measure against Josh Barnett, as a condition for him to get a license to fight, due to his past drug test failures.
To me, this testing was Kizer’s crowning achievement. Drug testing in combat sports is woefully inadequate. Subjecting fighters to more enhanced and random testing is a good thing. It may end up being the only truly worthwhile thing Kizer ever did in his position as executive director.
“Canelo Alvarez and I have big fights coming up this weekend. His is the ring and mine in treatment.
“I will not be at the fight to cheer Canelo to victory since I have voluntarily admitted myself into a treatment facility.
“I explained this to Canelo and he understood that my health and longterm recovery from my disease must come first.
“Thank you for your understanding. I ask for your support and privacy during this difficult time for me and my family.”
De La Hoya said he considered suicide at his lowest point before his previous rehab stint, and described his ongoing quest for sobriety as “the toughest fight of my life.” We wish De La Hoya the best of luck in his recovery.
(ODLH with Alvarez at a media workout in April. / Photo via Getty)
“Canelo Alvarez and I have big fights coming up this weekend. His is the ring and mine in treatment.
“I will not be at the fight to cheer Canelo to victory since I have voluntarily admitted myself into a treatment facility.
“I explained this to Canelo and he understood that my health and longterm recovery from my disease must come first.
“Thank you for your understanding. I ask for your support and privacy during this difficult time for me and my family.”
De La Hoya said he considered suicide at his lowest point before his previous rehab stint, and described his ongoing quest for sobriety as “the toughest fight of my life.” We wish De La Hoya the best of luck in his recovery.
As is tradition, Showtime has previewed the upcoming blockbuster fight with a series of “All Access” specials giving us a behind the scenes look at both men’s training camps. You will hear Mayweather touch on all the bullet points he’s become known for — his fame, his fortune, “I am boxing,” me, me, ME! — while battling an opponent he has been unable to defeat his entire life: Third person self-narrative. You will also hear Alvarez dish on respect and roosters with Golden Boy President, Oscar De La Hoya, who insists that Alvarez will finish Mayweather inside of eight rounds. We’d love to believe him, but many a man have made such a claim (or something similar to it) only to be outgunned by the WBC welterweight and WBA (Super) Light Middleweight champion.
Check out part 1 of “All Access” above. Parts 2 and 3 are after the jump.
As is tradition, Showtime has previewed the upcoming blockbuster fight with a series of “All Access” specials giving us a behind the scenes look at both men’s training camps. You will hear Mayweather touch on all the bullet points he’s become known for — his fame, his fortune, “I am boxing,” me, me, ME! — while battling an opponent he has been unable to defeat his entire life: Third person self-narrative. You will also hear Alvarez dish on respect and roosters with Golden Boy President, Oscar De La Hoya, who insists that Alvarez will finish Mayweather inside of eight rounds. We’d love to believe him, but many a man have made such a claim (or something similar to it) only to be outgunned by the WBC welterweight and WBA (Super) Light Middleweight champion.
Check out part 1 of “All Access” above. Parts 2 and 3 are after the jump.
