On May 3 (May 4 Japan time), Jaime Munguía (Mexico), the former WBO World Super Welterweight Champion and currently ranked No. 3 by both the WBC and WBO and No. 4 by the IBF at super middleweight, scored a unanimous decision victory over Bruno Surace (France) — 26 wins (5 KOs), 1 loss, and 2 draws — in a 12-round super middleweight bout held at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
However, following the fight, Munguía tested positive for exogenous testosterone in a drug test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA).
Munguía released a statement saying, “I am willing to undergo any past, present, or future testing to prove that I have always been a clean athlete.” Despite this, the B sample also returned a positive result.
As a result, Munguía now faces the possibility of suspension, a fine, and his victory being overturned to a no contest. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), which oversaw the boxing event in Riyadh, is expected to make a decision regarding disciplinary action.
In their first fight, held on December 14 (December 15 Japan time) in Tijuana, Mexico, Munguía dropped Surace with a left hook in the second round and continued to dominate. However, in the sixth round, while going in for the finish with a flurry of punches, Munguía was caught by a right hook from Surace and went down. Although he got back to his feet, the referee stopped the fight.
In a shocking upset, Jaime Munguía suffered the first knockout loss of his career. Determined to avenge the defeat, he immediately exercised the rematch clause. To prepare for the rematch against Bruno Surace, Munguía joined forces with Team Canelo, training under Eddy Reynoso — the longtime trainer of his former rival and current undisputed super middleweight world champion, Saul “Canelo” Álvarez (Mexico), who holds a record of 63 wins (39 KOs), 2 losses, and 2 draws.
Fernando Beltrán of Zanfer Promotions, who was present with Munguía during the opening of the B sample, indicated that they are fully cooperating with the testing process and are committed to complete transparency.
Munguía had previously stated, “I have conducted my career and life the right way. I love boxing — it is my life — and I want everything to be clear. I want to return to the ring as soon as possible. I have never disrespected the sport, my opponents, or deceived the fans. I intend to prove that.”
However, that claim has not been substantiated.
Beltrán stated, “At this stage, we are still waiting for an expert explanation regarding the specific levels detected in the sample. As the next step, our team will submit a list of all supplements and products Jaime used to a WADA-certified laboratory for testing. This is extremely important in identifying how the substance entered his body and ensuring the integrity of the review process.”
Back in February 2018, Canelo Alvarez also tested positive for clenbuterol in a surprise VADA test. He claimed the positive result was caused by eating clenbuterol-contaminated beef. At the time, Canelo said, “I will fully cooperate with all necessary testing to clarify this shameful situation. I believe the truth will prevail.”
Now, Team Munguía is asserting, “Jaime did not knowingly or intentionally ingest any banned substances.” They continue to claim, “This result was caused by contamination, and we are taking every possible measure to identify the source.”
Team Munguía is likely claiming that the positive test result was caused by consuming contaminated meat or a similar source. While it’s unlikely that Munguía intentionally took a banned substance, the key will be identifying how the substance entered his system. Ultimately, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is expected to make a final decision based on those findings.
This article has been translated and published with permission from BOXING MASTER.
https://boxing-master.com/prof/embed/#?secret=x2hdidccEV#?secret=JaONuGYWG5
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