By Jake Donovan
Demetrius Andrade knew from the moment he signed with Matchroom Boxing USA and DAZN that it was the best move he’d made in his 11-year pro career.
It’s now a move that could lead him directly into a superfight for his next outing.
First up for the unbeaten southpaw is long overdue hometown debut as he defends his middleweight titlie versus Maciej Sulecki this Saturday at Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Given the number of upsets that have already taken place this year, Andrade knows better than to look past the fight in front of him.
Rather, he’s put in the extra work to ensure that he not only wins but lands the fight he wants next—a dream showdown with World middleweight champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
“When I’m victorious on June 29, I want it to be a performance where people demand to see that fight next,” Andrade (27-0, 17KOs) insisted during a recent media conference call to discuss this weekend’s hometown headliner. “Who cares about Canelo and GGG (Gennadiy Golokvin) 3? The public and the mainstream, that’s all they know because Golden Boy Promotions did a great job with Canelo and Tom Loeffler did a great job with Golovkin.
“Now I have Eddie Hearn and DAZN to push me to the mainstream. I think I’m the most entertaining fighter out there. I walk it and talk it every time.”
The bout will mark Andrade’s third in just over eight months, which comes in stark contrast to how the bulk of his pro career has played out. The lack of activity and notoriety in his career is what made it enticing to join Hearn’s stable and the new streaming platform.
The opportunity to fight in his hometown was something which Andrade demanded in writing upon signing with Matchroom Boxing, although it was preaching to the choir. Hearn’s intention was to continue to build Andrade’s profile to where Alvarez and Golovkin can’t have their names mentioned without also including the unbeaten southpaw.
Andrade’s name continues to come up as Alvarez remains on the hunt for an opponent for his next fight. The target date is September 14—as part of a weekend dedicated to celebrating Mexican Independence Day—which left many to believe would rule out the winner of Saturday’s bout given the short turnaround.
Of course, it was also believed that Alvarez-Golovkin III was all but guaranteed to take place next. That hasn’t yet happened, largely in part to Golovkin’s demand that they not return to Las Vegas, where the two fought to a disputed draw in Sept. 2017 and with Alvarez taking a close decision in their rematch last September.
Having already put in the hard work for this weekend, Andrade speaks freely on his chances of landing such an opportunity without looking past Poland’s Sulecki (28-1, 14KOs), who enters his first career title fight.
I’m going in there to do it proper, so that when my hand is raised I’m going to call out Canelo,” he promises.
And if it means having to return to the ring in less than three months.
“I will not turn down a Canelo fight,” Andrade promises.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
