Jonathan Barros Claims Second Test is "Negative" For Hepatitis C
Jan 29, 2017 • 9:48 PM ET
By Elisinio Castillo
According to top featherweight contender Jonathan Barros and his handlers, the boxer tested "negative" for Hepatitis C - in a separate test conducted over the weekend.
On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Barros was scheduled to have a mandatory fight with IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby - but prior to the official weigh-in on Friday, the fight was canceled when the Nevada State Athletic Commission advised the media that Barros did not "meet the medical requirements" to get licensed to fight.
It was later revealed, by Barros himself, that he came up positive for Hepatitis C. The news was shocking to Barros, who passed all of his medical exams and blood tests last October in Japan, when he took part in the IBF's final eliminator. Barros had also fought in Las Vegas without a problem in 2012, when he was knocked out by Mikey Garcia - who appeared in the co-feature of Saturday's card.
Barros' team will now move to have his medical suspension lifted in Las Vegas.
"There were studies conducted on Barros at the laboratories of Quest Diagnostics and it was determined that there is no infection of Hepatitis C, that was claimed on Friday in the tests that were conducted days before the official weigh-in by the State Athletic Commission Of Nevada (NSAC), who immediately determined the cancellation of the fight against Selby," said Barros' promoter, OFR Promotions, in a statement issued to BoxingScene.com.
"The test that was carried out on Saturday [by Quest Diagnostics], done via blood, is the most effective to determine if the virus exists. The cause of the negative result can be justified by having expelled the antibody (if ever the boxer had ever acquired the disease), or that the first test had produced a false positive. To do this, a new examination should be carried out to find the cause of the first diagnosis."
"There is no infectious risk in the former WBA featherweight world champion, so his coaching staff, and ourselves at OFR Promotions will determine the best direction to take on the career side and the legal side."
