Demetrius Andrade talks lack of big fights!
Two-division world champion and current WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (29-0, 18KOs) feels he is an avoided man! Speaking to Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast, he opened up about the lack of big fight opportunities and whether or not his prime is being wasted.
RELATED: Demetrius Andrade Was Right Not To Trust Saunders
“I’m active, I’m being active. I was active before corona came, I was fighting four times. I fought three times, four times within the year and a couple of months; thirteen, fourteen months, four times. At the end of the day I can only fight the people that are willing to get in the ring with me. Something like Liam Williams, you know?
With Billy Joe Saunders, he wasn’t willing to get into it with me. You got Charlo, who DAZN or Matchroom, Eddie Hearn who offered seven million dollars to, which he turned down. No negotiation, talking about more money or bringing it over to PBC because I can go over to PBC if that’s what situation is. I know Eddie would sign off on that.
So at the end of the day it’s like, do these guys want to get in the ring with me? It takes two to tangle, it just can’t be me, you know. Of course, you gonna spend all this money on a fighter, don’t you want to put him in with the bigger guys? These other guys have to say yes too. At the end of the day, it’s a risk-reward for everybody, and whoever wins will have the demand to fight the bigger, better or get the bigger purse, the more elite guy or the pound for pound, whoever that is.”
SOMEBODY GET IN THE RING!
Andrade made some excellent points. It does take two to tangle. It is also on the fighters to be honest with themselves when it comes to their monetary demands. The fact that Andrade is a two-division world champion who has not fought in a unification bout in his career, it’s quite ridiculous and mind blowing. Not to say it’s all on him. However, with Jermall Charlo and Gennady Golovkin in his division, these fights need to happen ASAP!
To his credit, he was supposed to face WBO Super Middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders (30-0, 14KOs) in 2018. That fight went up in smoke after Saunders tested positive for a banned substance. Although he maintains interested in that fight, nothing has come close to being finalized since the 2018 debacle.
At 33 years old, time is starting to tick for Andrade. Not only is the belt on the line but also his chances to enhance his legacy and ability to stamp himself a truly great fighter. Andrade returns to the ring on April 17 against mandatory challenger Liam Williams (23-2-1, 18KOs). Should he come through victorious, let’s hope these bigger fights materialize this year!
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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