By Miguel Rivera
WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs) is still hunting to secure his next opponent for May 5th, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Golovkin was scheduled to have a rematch with Canelo Alvarez on the May date, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
But Canelo withdrew from the contest after being placed on a temporary suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Canelo tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol back in February and now has to appear at a hearing before the Nevada Commission on April 18th.
The Mexican superstar is facing a one-year suspension, but many believe the suspension will be shortened to six months.
Now Golovkin and his handlers are scrambling to get a new opponent as time is running out.
But the WBC has no problem with supporting a fight between Golovkin and any late replacement, as long as that opponent is credible.
"It is very regrettable," said Sulaiman. "All Golovkin did was train to fight for May 5. This process of physical exhaustion, of being away from his wife and his daughter who has just been born, focused on defending his world title, and all of that has been truncated and is truly unfair.
"The WBC will unconditionally support what Golovkin decides to do, as long as it is a worthy fight, without risks for his opponent. We're going to support him because it's the right thing to do.
"What everyone thinks is that Canelo will be suspended for a period of time and then he will stage a fight against Golovkin in September. But everything is speculation. What will happen on May 5? That will determine the future of this rematch. To this day, nobody knows what will happen to Golovkin on May 5or to Canelo when it comes to his future in boxing."
As the leader of the Clean Boxing Program and, at the same time, the compatriot of Canelo Alvarez, Sulaiman has assured that he will do everything possible to assist in the development of the case without being emotionally involved in any particular way.
