Demetrius Andrade is done chasing after the usual suspects and one in particular.
The latest message sent by the unbeaten two-division and reigning WBO middleweight titlist from Providence is that it’s time for the best to step his way. Andrade has spent the entirety of his current title reigning demanding bigger fights than what has materialized, settling for fights for the sake of remaining active such as his recent second-round knockout of Ireland’s Jason Quigley this past Friday on DAZN from SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.
As has become the case ever since he’s arrived at middleweight, most of the post-fight talk centered around a desired showdown with fellow unbeaten two-division titlist Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22KOs), who holds the WBC belt. It’s a fighter his team continues to call for, though the longtime middleweight titleholder is done with that game.
“I ain’t go no messages. I’m not gonna call anyone out,” Andrade told BoxingScene.com after his latest win. “Whoever wants to fight, let’s fight. However, we got to make things happen, let’s make things happen.
“It’s not about Charlo. It’s about everybody. It’s about who’s on DAZN, who’s with Matchroom. There’s a lot of big fights here. There are a lot of big fights that can be made.”
A valid point is made by Andrade (31-0, 19KOs) who has been with DAZN-USA since its 2018 launch. The sports streaming platform also houses plenty of fighters in his own weight division. Former WBO junior middleweight titlist Jaime Munguia (38-0, 30KOs) is the number-one contender to both Andrade and Charlo. The final DAZN show of the year takes place on December 29, topped by a middleweight title unification bout between IBF champ Gennadiy Golovkin (41-1-1, 36KOs) and WBA titlist Ryota Murata (16-2, 13KOs).
A big problem around middleweight, super middleweight and even light heavyweight is that nearly everyone is waiting on a career-changing payday in the form of a showdown with Guadalajara’s Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (57-1-2, 39KOs). That option likely won’t exist for at least the first half of 2022, if the four-division champ and reigning undisputed super middleweight champion is serious about plans to challenge WBC cruiserweight champion Ilunga ‘Junior’ Makabu. Such a fight would force everyone waiting in line to either remain idle or find means to stay active in the interim.
Andrade will continue to remain among the latter.
“I continue to win,” notes Andrade. “I’m 31-0, an unbeaten two-division champion, a 2008 Olympian. I don’t know what more I need to do, but I’m not calling anyone out. If they’re ready to fight, they know where to find me. Right here, undefeated AND STILL… and I’m not going anywhere.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
