Demetrius Andrade cruises by Luke Keeler!
As he was expected to do, WBO middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo-Boo” Andrade (29-0, 18 KO’s) completely outclassed and out-boxed an over-matched Luke Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KO’s) in route to a ninth round stoppage.
Initially it appeared that it was going to be quick night when Andrade floored Keeler with a pinpoint straight left in the first five seconds of the fight.
To his credit Keeler would survive the period only to be dumped on the canvas in the second round with a devastating left hook. Luckily for the Irish boxer the second knock down came at the end of the period allowing him to squeak out the round.
For the next several periods Andrade bent over at the waist and stood directly in front a completely gun shy Keeler looking for counter punching opportunities. Despite daring the champion to stand and trade with him before the prizefight, Keeler was very unwilling to initiate very much action.
As a result Andrade mainly threw single hard hooks to the head and thudding straight strikes to his opponent’s belly.
At about the seventh period, Keeler began opening up with his own offense which only allowed the much faster and more accurate Andrade to tee off on him with more regularity. This choice would be the beginning of his end!
In the ninth round, Boo-Boo connected with a hard right uppercut led by a feint of the left that obviously hurt and disoriented Keeler. The Rhode Island native immediately followed up the jaw-jacking blow with a string of hooks and uppercuts.
The impressive barrage of punches forced the discombobulated challenger to the ropes where referee Telis Assimenios halted the action with Keeler still on his feet.
During the post-fight interview, Andrade declared that in his next fight he would move up the super-middleweight to face WBO champion “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KO’s).
“Eddie Hearn has that big book. Tell him to cut a check to Billy ‘Joke Ass’ Saunders so I can beat his ass too!”
When asked about a fight with WBC world middleweight champion Jermall “Hit Man” Charlo (30-0, 22 KO’s) Boo-Boo said that he was very interested in that bout and would accept an offer if one was presented.
By: Bakari Simpson
