By Steve Kim
Late last year it was announced that WBO junior middleweight titlist, Demetrius Andrade would be facing Jermell Charlo on December 13th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as part of a Showtime broadcast. But Andrade pulled out of the fight because of his unhappiness over what he was receiving for that assignment.
The last we saw of Andrade was June 14th, 2014 when he halted Brian Rose in seven rounds in what was his first defense of his belt.
With this protracted layoff, the WBO is now threatening to strip him of his title for inactivity.
Artie Pelullo, the head of Banner Promotions - who co-promote Andrade alongside Star Boxing - told BoxingScene.com on Wednesday afternoon:
"We requested the WBO to give us a little more time. Demetrius knows he made a terrible mistake not taking the Charlo fight and we're working through all that. We're all on the same page and we're trying to find a fight for him to satisfy the WBO needs to get him back in the ring sooner rather than later."
Andrade was set to receive in the neighborhood of a half-million dollars to take on Charlo.
Right now the career of the 26-year old from Providence, Rhode Island is stalled for the time being.
"We were working on a (Anthony) Mundine fight and I'm not sure that's going to work but there's also several other guys in the ratings, including a guy I co-promote with Vito Mielnicki (GH3 Promotions), John Thompson, who won the 'Boxcino' tournament," explained Pelullo.
"So we're hoping that the WBO will allow us more time and they've been very patient, very understanding. He hasn't fought in 13 months but Demetrius knows he made a serious mistake, he and his manager Ed Sarrif, that they should have taken the Charlo fight and now we're trying to make sure he doesn't lose his title.
"We'll fight somebody in the top ten to get him in the ring, hopefully by September."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.