Demetrius Andrade returns in a unwanted, flavorless prizefight
On November 27, WBO world middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (29-0, 18 KO’s) returns to action. On the that date, he will face the challenge of Dusty Hernandez Harrison (34-0-1, 20 KO’s). And quite honestly, outside of the two camps and their mothers, no one cares. Harrison will be the next opponent in a long string of underwhelming in-ring opposition.
Minus WBO world super middleweight champion “Superb” Billy Joe Saunders (29-0, 14 KO’s), Andrade has not come close to fighting anyone that the boxing public is interested in quite some time. Yet, to his credit, on two separate occasions his prizefights with Superb fell apart completely due to Saunders.
JUST KEEPING THE ENGINE WARM
The only mildly curious element to this scrap is the fact that it is taking place at super middleweight. Barring that wrinkle there, is not much to get excited about here. Actually, even the WBO champ seems to acknowledge the overwhelming lackluster nature of this bout in a press statement.
“Is this the big fight I wanted, or have been chasing? No. But what am I supposed to do? Sit here and keep waiting for someone to answer the phone or accept one of Eddie’s offers? I’m in the prime of my career and I want to stay busy and fight as much as possible. With everything going on with COVID, you don’t know what’s going to happen. I have the opportunity to fight now, and I’m taking it.”
~Demetrius Andrade
POT NAYSAYING THE KETTLE
For his part, Harrison is eager to get in the ring in what will undoubtedly be his biggest step up in competition. Actually, the DC native is in the process of restarting his career after a two-and half-year hiatus away from the sport.
When Harrison last fought, prior to his break in 2016, he was competing in the welterweight division. Yet, since his return, he has fought all over the place. In his four fights since resuming his career, Harrison has fought at light heavyweight twice, super middleweight and middleweight.
Somewhat oddly though, Dusty Harrison mocked the level of Andrade’s past opponents. This was odd because, since returning, his last four foes have a combined record of (91-65-3). So, it will be revealing to see what type of fight Harrison offers on November 27.
“This is the opportunity I have been waiting for my entire life. This is why I started boxing. All of the time I have dedicated to this sport, I finally get my opportunity to show the world who I am and what I am capable of on November 27.”
“Demetrius talks a big game, and says he is the boogeyman of the division, but who has he fought? Then he goes out, fights whoever it is, runs around the ring, picks up a win and goes back to running his mouth. He says that he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Then okay, so be it. On November 27, I take his spot.”
~Dusty Hernandez Harrison
By: Bakari Simpson
