Floyd Mayweather makes surprising comments on Canelo drug controversy

As previously reported on FightNights.com, the highly-anticipated middleweight championship rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin is heading towards cancellation after the Nevada Athletic Commission filed a formal complaint against Alvarez on Thursday as a result of his two positive tests for clenbuterol.

Canelo, who had never previously tested positive for any banned substance, is facing a one-year suspension. However, there is the possibility that he could receive a reduced sentence of six months at an upcoming hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 18.

Alvarez will be required to appear at the hearing -- either in person or via telephone -- on the matter. The meeting was initially slated for April 10, but has since been pushed back a week.

The rematch is scheduled for May 5th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but it is very doubtful that the fight will happen.

Alvarez has denied knowingly taking the prohibited substance and blamed the positive tests on contaminated beef, which has been an issue in Mexico for years.

Clenbuterol was initially developed as a bronchodilator for the treatment of symptoms of asthma, but it also increases heart rate, blood pressure, and adrenaline. Furthermore, clen burns fat by increasing metabolism, allows for more natural breathing, and increases muscle by enhancing muscle protein synthesis.

Although his back is against the ropes, one fighter is surprisingly defending Canelo, and that is Floyd Mayweather Jr.

He believes the rematch should go on, but as long as Canelo is regularly tested, and free of any banned substances.

"I'm not here to say anything bad about Triple G, or anything bad about Canelo. I think the fight still should happen. If they put the fight somewhere else [if they don't allow it in Las Vegas]... if he got busted or whatever he did. Say he got busted, from here all the way to the fight - there should be random blood and urine testing and they should fight," Mayweather told Fighthype.com.

Mayweather's comments come as a surprise because he has spoken out vigorously in the past on maintaining a level playing field, and was in the forefront of introducing Olympic-style blood and urine testing to the sport.

The 41-year-old Mayweather (50-0, 27 KO's), a former five-division world titleholder, fought Canelo in 2013, and thoroughly outclassed the Mexican superstar on points.

Canelo (49-1-2, 34 KO's), 27, tested positive for trace amounts of clenbuterol in random urine tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on Feb. 17 and Feb. 20 in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico. As a result, he was temporarily suspended by the NSAC.

However, Alvarez has tested clean since, including three tests conducted in the month of March.