As reigning WBO flyweight titlist Anthony Olascuaga moves forward with his career, a past knockdown victim will remain on the sideline.
BoxingScene has confirmed that Puerto Rico’s Juan Carlos Camacho, 19-2 (8 KOs), was issued a nine-month suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for violation of the state’s substance abuse policy. Camacho tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide – a banned diuretic – surrounding his September 11 second-round knockout loss to Olascuaga at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Per an agreement between the boxer and the state, Camacho was issued a backdated nine-month suspension that will tentatively end June 11, provided he complies with mandatory drug testing standards. Camacho was also issued a $5,250 fine and ordered to pay $250.60 in legal fees surrounding the case.
The matter was on the Nevada commission’s monthly agenda hearing for several months but was delayed as the title challenger continued to work with the state. He owned up to the infraction on record, which permitted NSAC to provide a lesser suspension.
Camacho will be required to provide clean drug testing samples before he is officially cleared to return to the ring.
Despite evidence of the banned substance in his opponent’s system, Olascauga was still able to shine in his first stateside fight as a major titleholder.
A 27-year-old Los Angeleno, Olascuaga fought primarily in Japan over his past five fights before being brought home for the September card. Olascuaga – who hadn’t fought in the US since October 2022, prior to his entering the title stage – quickly solved the riddle of his mobile opponent and battered him in the second round en route to the stoppage victory.
Olascuaga has since returned to Japan for a fourth-round knockout of Taku Kuwahara on December 17 at Tokyo’s famed Ryogoku Kokugikan arena – the same site where he won the WBO title in a July 2024 third-round knockout of Riku Kano.
The win over Camacho marked Olascuaga’s third title defense, adding to that tally with the abovementioned win over Kuwahara.
Camacho fought primarily in Puerto Rico, with one fight each in the Dominican Republic and Mexico prior to his stateside debut versus Olascuaga. He will now have to prove he is a clean fighter before he can box again in the lower 48 states or on his home island.
