How Postponing Rematch Could Actually Work In Canelo's Favor

By Andreas Hale

I know it sounds strange, but if the Canelo-GGG rematch is canceled after Canelo tested positive for a banned substance, it could actually work in his favor. Follow me here for a minute because, obviously, Canelo’s character is going to wear a black eye if and when the Nevada State Athletic Commission decides to suspend him for failing a pair of drug tests after the banned substance Clenbuterol was found in his system. No matter how many ways you slice it, Canelo is at fault and nobody should feel particularly sorry for him.

But before I dive into exactly how this could work for him instead of against him, let’s take a look at the damage control that should be handled beforehand.

For one, Canelo and his team should take full responsibility for the failed drug tests. Although the tainted meat argument seemed like a good excuse, the reality is that he should have been far more careful of what he put in his system before what is arguably the biggest fight of his career. It could be a careless mistake but the rules are the rules.

Unless he did it on purpose. 

But let’s just say that it was an accident and Canelo had no idea the meat he was ingesting could be tainted. That’s pretty irresponsible of both Canelo and his team to allow a situation to arise that could have been prevented by simple monitoring and making sure that he’s only eating the finest quality of meat. Maybe that’s unreasonable. However, the precautionary measures taken must exceed what we consider reason. Tainted meat may be common in Mexico, but that’s all the more reason for Canelo’s team to use more scrutiny when it comes to his camp diet. Again, unless he knowingly took Clenbuterol and is only using this bad meat excuse as a way to save face.

Either way, Canelo’s team needs to do their best to get in front of this potential disaster if they are remotely trying to salvage the Mexican’s rapport with boxing fans. By taking responsibility, apologizing and telling the NSAC that he will step aside and willfully accept a suspension, there’s a chance that boxing fans will find the middleweight as a sympathetic figure who simply made a mistake. And that’s far better than a fighter who knowingly cheated, got caught and lied despite the walls closing in on him.

If Canelo is hit with a 6-12 month suspension, his team can begin taking aim at either Mexican Independence Day 2018 or Cinco De Mayo 2019 for a fight with Golovkin. It may hurt his image now, but the world has a strange way of forgetting things like this. They’ll get over it and the rematch -- whenever it is scheduled -- will be a sellout with just as much, if not more, hype surrounding it.

And now this is how it all works in his favor.

This was certainly a fight that Golovkin was looking forward to and he’s displayed a seldom seen angry side when addressing the possibility of Canelo being a cheater. If Canelo bows out before the April 18th sentencing date, there’s a chance that Golovkin can take his frustrations out on another fighter. However, GGG turns 36 on April 8th and could find his skills in deterioration. It’s not a given as a few fighters have defied the odds (namely, Bernard Hopkins). But that’s certainly not the norm and many fighters see their careers come crashing down once they are in their mid-30s. As for Canelo, he turns 28 in July and is entering the prime years of his career. If the unspoken plan was to wait GGG out and pounce when he got older, this is almost too perfect of a scenario.

The “worst" case scenario would find Canelo having to face Golovkin next May, when GGG is 37 years old. Considering that Canelo would still be under 30, this could be exactly what the doctor ordered. Although many had GGG winning their first fight, there’s no doubt that there was much improvement seen from Canelo in that fight and it can only be assumed that he’ll be even better whenever they meet again. Dragging out GGG’s fighting career another year and a few more fights should put Canelo in prime position to take advantage of the age gap and indirectly pushing GGG over the hill.

Also, it’s not like Mexican boxing fans will abandon him. Sure, some may brand Canelo as a cheater and get behind GGG. But, for the most part, Canelo’s drawing power will remain unaffected and a year out of the ring should definitely make the heart grow fonder for his inevitable return. Especially if he’s able to score sympathy points from fans for making a mistake rather than egregiously cheating.

Everybody wants to see this rematch. And if Mayweather-Pacquiao taught us anything about boxing, it’s that fans will still come out in droves to see it no matter how long it takes. That doesn’t mean that this thing should drag out until GGG is 40, it just means that 6 months to a year isn’t something that will ruin the fight. Unless GGG loses. But, hey, Manny Pacquiao was savagely knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez and Mayweather-Pacquiao still smashed PPV records.

As long as Oscar De La Hoya and Team Canelo get a hold of this now, they can lighten the blow and begin planning for Canelo’s return to the ring. Strangely enough, this could all play out in a way that benefits Canelo.