Halestormsports.com can confirm, right on the eve of Boxing returning to Brooklyn, that Erik Morales has allegedly tested positive for one of USADA’s banned substances: Banned list

We have confirmed this information through several sources. As of right now the future Hall of Famer is still scheduled to have his rematch with Jr. Welterweight Champion Danny Garcia, but allegedly the World title will no longer be on the line. This will be the second time these fighters were to meet in a title fight. In their last encounter Erik Morales lost the title on the scales when he failed to make weight for their fight.

Halestormsports.com tried to reach the NYSAC and USADA for a statement; New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), who is sanctioning the fight, has no comment. We’re still waiting on the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for comment.

So now the questions have to be asked. While the World title will no longer be on the line why is this fight still on the card? I understand the event has been hyped and pushed hard by Showtime and Goldenboy as the big return to boxing in Brooklyn, but should fighters be allowed to fight after (allegedly) getting caught with a banned substance?

If fighters have any type of incentive to take a banned substance and still fight it truly makes pre-fight samples more meaningless. Sadly it’s become clearer that sports in general are plagued by the usage of banned substances.

Erik Morales is currently 52-8-0, 36 KO’s. He is best known for his dominant reign in the late 90’s and early 2000’s where he knocked out Junior Jones, had a historic trilogy with Marco Antonio Barrera and defeated Manny Pacquiao in their first fight.

Stay tuned to Halestormsports.com for more to come on this developing story.