Demetrius Andrade v Zach Parker Provided Extra Time to Hammer Out a Deal
It’s a known fact that current WBO middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (31-0, 19 KOs) has decided to move up to the super middleweight division. As reported by 3Kings Boxing on January 28, the WBO ordered a match between Andrade and WBO number one ranked super middleweight Zach Parker (22-0, 16 KOs) for the WBO Interim title at 168 pounds.
MORE TIME IS NEEDED
At the time, the sanctioning body gave the fighters ten days to come to terms on a deal. Both camps requested an extension. The WBO has accepted their request via a letter released to the boxing public. Parker and Andrade now have an additional ten days to come to terms, or the fight will go to a purse bid. Should a deal not occur, a purse bid would be held on February 25 at 11:00 a.m. EST at their headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The minimum bid is $300,000.
Andrade has defended the WBO 160 pound title five times and is coming off a two-round dismantling of Jason Quigley in November of 2021. But “Boo Boo” has been in pursuit of a fight with the undisputed super middleweight champion, “Canelo” Alvarez. The decision to go to 168 is a way to put himself in a better position to land a fight with Alvarez.
Parker acquired the mandatory slot with an eleventh-round stoppage win over Rohan Murdock in March of 2020. Not resting on his laurels, the 27-year-old from Derbyshire, England fought three times in 2021. In his last outing, Parker scored a one-sided fourth-round TKO over Marcus Morrison in November of that year.
WILL A PURSE BID BE AVOIDED?
Expect the negotiations to be contentious. Andrade is promoted by Eddie Hearn while Parker is handled by Frank Warren. As boxing fans know, Warren and Hearn are far from the best of mates. It will be interesting to see if the promotional rivals can hammer out a deal before the mandated deadline. Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for continual updates.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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