J’Leon Love Hearing: Suspension, Fine, Fight Ruled “No Contest”

On the eve of his fight against Gabriel Rosado on the Mayweather/Guerrero undercard, J’Leon Love weighed on the scales at 161.5lbs, 1.5lbs over the middleweight limit after a lengthy delay. The following night he would go on to win a controversial split decision victory. While the boxing community was swarming via twitter on who won or lost the fight, the background of it all goes much deeper for Love.

On March 26, about a month before the fight, Love’s brother Gerard Bernard Love was shot and killed back at his hometown in Detroit. That tragic news put a strain on Love, as well as his training camp in preparation for his May 4th showdown.

Almost two weeks after his win, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) announced Love has tested positive for a banned substance. The substance in question is a diuretic called Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). It is used mainly to treat kidney stones, heart congestion, and high blood pressure to name a few. The side effects of the diuretic are mostly dire, these include nausea, numbness, and stomach pain. So come fight night, this caused more harm to himself than to his opponent.

Love has accepted full responsibility over the incident saying “I’m in control of what goes in my body” and understanding that the diuretic could have killed him. Love had to make weight in time for the fight to go forward and earn a pay day. With the untimely passing of his brother, Love is supporting his brother’s nine children

He’s cited at the hearing that he did not know the diuretic was a banned substance and he would never do anything to knowingly hurt himself or his career. Love’s strength and conditioning coach, Bob Ware gave him the pill after realizing that he may not make weight in time. Love told the commission that he is no longer working with Ware.

The hearing with the NSAC ruled that J’Leon Love would be suspended 6 months along with a $10,000 fine. The split decision victory over Rosado would be overturned and is now ruled a “no contest”.

J’Leon Love’s record would go back to 15-0 and Rosado back to 21-6.

-Alex Aviles

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