MANILA, Philippines – Mexican boxer Erik Morales is not worried about the two-year ban imposed upon him by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after he tested positive in two random samples prior to his October 2012 rematch against Danny Garcia.
The USADA last week banned Morales for two years after he tested positive for the banned substance Clenbuterol before his fight against Garcia, which he lost via a third-round knockout.
But in an interview with Boxing Scene, the former world champion shrugged off the sanction and revealed plans to fight at least once more.
“The idea is to make a nice party for the farewell of my career,” he said. “I’ve had a 20-year career. I want to throw a party in honor of (myself) and in honor (of what I) accomplished.”
“(The party is) not only for me, but for the people who stood by me – my father, my mother, my brothers, the fans, the press, especially the coaches, trainers, doctors, sparring partners and all of those who helped prepare me and demanded me to be better every day,” Morales said.
“But mostly, my children and my wife, who often had to endure my absence for long periods of time. This is not just for me, but for everyone involved in my career,” he added.
The Boxing Scene report said Morales wants to have “a farewell fight” in Mexico in the next few months, but the Mexican legend no longer wants to fight in the United States.
Meanwhile, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said the ban “means nothing in Mexico, or the United States.”
“These people (USADA) have no authority, so it doesn’t mean a thing,” Arum told RingTV.