LAS VEGAS – When Oscar De La Hoya learned of Jaime Munguia’s positive test result for the banned substance exogenous testosterone, it triggered the same thoughts that have spread across the boxing landscape like a wildfire this week:
What exactly is happening in the training camp directed by trainer Eddy Reynoso?
Munguia’s positive test added another name to the list of fighters who’ve tested positive for performance-enhancing substances while under Reynoso’s watch.
The group includes his most prominent fighter, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, two-division champion Oscar Valdez, and former flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez.
Munguia was flagged by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for a post-fight result following his May 3 unanimous-decision victory over Bruno Surace, who had stunningly knocked out Munguia on December 14 in Munguia’s native Tijuana, Mexico.
“My thinking is … what is it, six fighters that have worked with Eddy Reynoso who have been caught? Maybe something is up,” De La Hoya said Friday night as he attended his Golden Boy Promotions card at Virgin Hotels.
“Six fighters? I’m scratching my head, thinking, ‘Somebody’s guilty in that camp.’ Somebody is. I’m not sure who they’re going to pin it on, but … .”
De La Hoya lumped in former junior-featherweight champion Luis Nery and recent WBA secondary welterweight title challenger Ryan Garcia in his counting of six, but Nery and Garcia are former Reynoso fighters who submitted positive tests when working with other trainers.
De La Hoya stopped short of labeling Reynoso guilty before all the evidence has been collected.
His comments came about when asked if he heard his former fighter and two-division champion Jermall Charlo tell reporters this week that he believes Alvarez is still using clenbuterol, the substance he tested positive for after his 2017 draw with Gennadiy Golovkin and before a scheduled rematch that Alvarez later won narrowly after enduring Olympic-style drug testing.
“[Charlo’s] brother [Jermell] has been in the ring with Canelo. He’s felt the power,” De La Hoya said.
“Until you’re guilty, and it’s proven, I can’t really talk about it. But when you have a trainer who has six fighters that test positive, something’s going on.”
De La Hoya added that he will advise Garcia to take the rest of 2025 off after undergoing surgery on his injured right hand. Garcia was defeated by Rolly Romero May 2 in Times Square in a performance that was muted compared to his three-knockdown victory over Devin Haney one year earlier that was changed to a non-contest because of Garcia’s positive test results for the performance-enhancing drug ostarine.
“I would like Ryan to think about taking the whole year off,” De La Hoya said, indicating he wants Garcia to tend to his physical health, including a shoulder injury, and his mental health.
“Getting his mind straight, getting his mind comfortable where he feels good. There’s nothing lost for him. He’s had injuries, and he’s got to get those fixed. He just has to get his life in order, because I’m pretty sure everyone’s tugging on him left and right.
“Take a deep breath, take a step back and reassess your life.”
When asked for his response to the possibility of Garcia rejoining Reynoso, De La Hoya said, “I would hate for him to be the seventh fighter to get popped.”