Erislandy Lara says he suspected Saul Canelo Alvarez was using performance enhancing drugs before he tested positive twice recently for clenbuterol while training for his now canceled May 5th rematch with middleweight champion Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin. Lara says he saw how Canelo’s physique changed and how his head got larger than it was before. That tipped Lara off that Canelo might have been using something.
(Picture credit: SHOWTIME/Stephanie Trapp)
“I think it’s disrespectful when any athlete tests positive,” Lara said to Fighthub. “Of course. I believe so. His body changed a lot, his head [got bigger]. Everything changed,” Lara said when asked if he suspected that Canelo was using PEDs.
Canelo’s excuse for his two positive tests for clenbuterol rests on him eating contaminated meat.
It’s unclear if clenuterol changes the head size of the person that uses it, especially when they eat contaminated meat.
Canelo will probably have receipts to give to the Nevada Commission when he meets with them on April 18th in his attempt to get cleared.
So there it is from Lara. He says he saw how Canelo’s body had changed recently, and his noticed that the 27-year-old Mexican fighter’s head had gotten larger, and that made him think that he was using PEDs.
Canelos situation now is he’s facing a 6 month ban at the very least when he meets with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 18th at a hearing for his 2 positive doping tests. I didn’t personally see the same thing Lara did as far as Canelo’s head getting bigger. His physique is what looked different. Canelo was more defined and he looked bigger for the Golovkin fight last September compared to how his body looked in his previous fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last May.
Canelo will still face Golovkin in the future when he finishes his suspension. It’s likely September that the fight between Golovkin and Canelo will take place. In the meantime, Golovkin will fight on May 5th against a replacement opponent. Golovkin’s promoter Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions isn’t expected to pick a dangerous guy for him to face. One easy mark replacement opponent 21-year-old Jaimie Munguia has been rejected by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The next option is expected to be Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan. He should be approved without any problems for a nice little mismatch for GGG.
WBA Super World 154lb champion Lara faces IBF champion Jarrett Hurd tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winner of the Lara vs. Hurd fight will take on WBC champion Jermell Charlo laster this year on Showtime Boxing.
Lara doesn’t rate Hurd as a very good fighter. Surprisingly, Lara sees Hurd as No.9 or No.10 in the best fighters he’ll have faced.
“8, 9, 10…Paul Williams has got to be at the top,” Lara said. ”Angulo is a great warrior. Canelo Alvarez a whole another level. Vanes Martirosyan [had a great amateur career]. [Hurd] didn’t have an excellent amateur career.”