Liam Smith vs Demetrius Andrade Anyone?
Things are continuing to heat up in the sport of boxing. Queensbury Promotions head honcho Frank Warren, in an interview with BT Sports, revealed that negotiations are in place that would feature WBO Middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (29-0, 18ko) making a fourth title defense against former WBO Junior middleweight champion Liam “Beefy” Smith (28-2, 16ko).
Yes! That would mean that once again UK’s biggest rival promoters Eddie Hearn and Warren will be doing the tango once again to make a big fight.
The WBO champion has been looking for a viable opponent since diving into the deep end of the pool at the middleweight division.
Smith, a former WBO junior middleweight champion brings a level of respectability as an opponent that Boo Boo has been lacking as of late. Also, even though the former champion was eyeing a possible fight with Kell Brook, a chance at being a world champion again has been top priority for the 31-year-old British boxer.
Beefy has been on a three-fight win streak, with two of them ending by technical knockout.
ANDRADE GETS A PAYOFF
Andrade has been the odd man out in the division. The talented slick southpaw’s early-career promotional issues and long layoffs kept him in obscurity. After linking up with the fast-talking British promoter, things are now moving smoothly.
The WBO champion has repeatedly called for fights with both divisional champion and Mexican mega-star/WBA champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (53-1-2, 36ko) and IBF champion Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 35ko).
Furthermore, the 32-year-old Rhode Island native signed a four-fight extension that undoubtedly was the motivation behind the knockout performance of Luke Keeler back on January 30 in Miami, Florida.
Warren, during the interview, expressed extreme confidence that not only will the fight happen, but his man Smith would be victorious.
“The WBO has advised us we are in negotiations at the moment for him (Smith) to fight Andrade. It has to happen, we are in negotiations.
“The fight has to take place within next, I think ninety to one hundred days.
“So he’s good to go, he can win that. Let me tell you something, he can beat Andrade. I know he can, he can beat Andrade!”
By: Garrisson Bland
