Boxing: Canelo Alvarez stripped by Ring Magazine

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In a stunning turn of events, Ring Magazine looks to have possibly stripped Canelo Alvarez of his middleweight title as well as remove him from their pound for pound rankings. The middleweight title is listed as vacant and Alvarez is no longer in the top 10 P4P list as of right now.

After suffering much criticism, some coming from their own staff including editor-in-chief Doug Fischer, apparently they’ve decided that stripping Alvarez was the right call. Last month Fischer explained the decision to keep Alvarez as the champion was one that the rankings board at the magazine did not agree with as they voted unanimously to remove Alvarez, but the vote was overridden by the publisher.

The publisher just so happens to be Alvarez promoter and head of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya. The new decision is surely a concession to the criticism received via social media and boxing media’s biggest names including thyself.

The rules set forth under the rankings system does not allow a fighter to keep a ranking or a title after receiving a suspension. Alvarez was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission back in April.

The suspension came after Alvarez failed two drug test in February. Before the suspension, he withdrew from a May 5th rematch with current Ring #1 Gennady Golovkin.