Titan Fighting Championship Flyweight Champion Juan Puerta was supposed to defend the gold against Gustavo Balart in the main event of Titan FC 53, but then disaster would strike.
The reason the main event bout got canned was that the Florida State Boxing Commission (FSBC) informed Puerta of a failed drug test for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) according to MMA Fighting. The situation would get worse because not only was the fight canceled, but it got canned minutes before both fighters were set to walk to the cage.
Lex McMahon, who the the Titan FC COO, would call the situation an unfortunate one.
“It’s an unfortunate thing,” McMahon said. “At the end of the day, the fans lost what was going to be an amazing fight. Gustavo Balart had an opportunity to become a champion. Puerta had the opportunity to defend his belt. Everybody loses; nobody wins with this thing. At the end of the day, it’s pot. It’s not a performance-enhancing drug. Commissions across the country have been dealing with this issue. Some of the more aggressive commissions have [increased] their tolerances. For Florida to take the position they did is very frustrating for me. I work with them, obviously, day in and day out. I think that they generally do a great job. I appreciate them. But I think they got this one wrong. I think it has a profound affect on a lot of different people. It’s truly unfortunate.”
Puerta is currently on an indefinite suspension and it is unknown at this time as to when the fighter will return to action.
