Jose Uzcategui tests positive for banned substance, pulled from Nov.13th fight against David Benavidez ⋆ Boxing News 24
By Matt Lieberman: Former IBF tremendous middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui has examined constructive for the banned substance rEPO and has been pulled from his November thirteenth headliner struggle towards David Benavidez on SHOWTIME on the Footprint Middle, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Premier Boxing Champions [PBC] yanked Uzcategui from the cardboard with out ready for his B-sample to be examined, in accordance with Mike Coppinger.
Benavidez (24-0, 21 KOs) will keep in the principle occasion, and a substitute opponent is being sought to fill in. It received’t be straightforward to discover a high quality fighter that shall be prepared to stroll the plank towards a expertise just like the 24-year-old former two-time WBC tremendous middleweight champion Benavidez.
There’s not a lot time for a top quality substitute opponent to be present in time for the November thirteenth card. It wouldn’t be shocking if Benavidez’s substitute opponent is discovered from the 160 or 175-pound divisions.
It is a main missed alternative for Uzcategui, because the struggle with Benavidez was an IBF/WBC tremendous middleweight title eliminator with the winner to be obligatory for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant winner.
There’s probably some huge cash to be made for the winner of the IBF/WBC 168-lb title eliminator if Canelo wins his struggle with Plant and he doesn’t vacate.
Coppinger is reporting the information of the 30-year-old Uzcategui’s constructive VADA check for the banned substance rEPO. The constructive check for the Venezuelan Uzcategui (31-4, 26 KOs) got here from October twenty seventh.
Uzcategui was an odd selection from day one to be picked out as an opponent to struggle Benavidez within the IBF & WBC 168-lb title eliminator.
With two defeats in his final 5 fights, Uzcategui didn’t fee to be preventing in a title eliminator until the {qualifications} had been for somebody that was lately overwhelmed repeatedly. There are arguably extra deserving contenders within the IBF & WBC rankings than Uzcategui.
One in all these contenders can be a superb substitute for Benavidez to face:
- Carlos Gongora
- Daniel Jacobs
- David Lemieux
- Aidos Yerbossynuly
- Vladimir Shishkin
- Jesse Hart
- Callum Smith
- Craig Richards
“Sources: Jose Uzcategui examined constructive for the performance-enhancing substance rEPO on Oct. 27 – a VADA check – and has been pulled from Nov. 13 struggle with David Benavidez on Showtime. That was the A-sample, however PBC didn’t wait round to tug him from struggle,” stated @MikeCoppinger.
“PBC looking for a brand new opponent for Benavidez, who will nonetheless headline Showtime Championship Boxing on Nov. 13. PBC didn’t even try and push by way of with the struggle or watch for the B-sample. Would you have a look at that.”
