By Rick Reeno
BoxingScene.com has been advised that a deal is complete for WBO junior middleweight Demetrius Andrade (21-0, 14KOs) to make his Showtime televised debut on December 13th against Jermell Charlo (24-0, 11KOs), which is going to take place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Andrade-Charlo will go head to head with Top Rank's HBO televised card, which is taking place only a few miles away at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino. The HBO card will be headlined by the return of former two division champion Timothy Bradley, who faces Diego Chaves.
Multiple sources have told BoxingScene that Andrade's debut on Showtime is a prelude to a lucrative multi-fight deal with the network. HBO had showcased Andrade's last tow fights.
Sources indicate to BoxingScene that a strain developed in the relationship between HBO and promoter Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions. There was a deal worked out where Andrade would return before the end of the year in a fight for the vacant WBO middleweight against Matt Korobov. The WBO approved Andrade's petition to fight for that title, but then HBO allegedly backed away from the particulars of the deal.
Andrade may not be the only fighter crossing the street. It's being said that Pelullo is frustrated with HBO's inability to place former champion Ruslan Provodniov in a high profile fight on their network. Provonikov's team is also said to be frustrated, as they are now forced to fight, off U.S. TV, in Moscow on November 28th.
Provodnikov, who drew high ratings on HBO, was unable to secure network televised fights with Brandon Rios, Carlos Abregu, Jessie Vargas and several others. The Siberian boxer's handlers, and Pelullo, are said to be interested in exploring their options on Showtime, where there could be possible fights against Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner, Lucas Matthysse, Lamont Peterson, and several showdown possibilities at welterweight as well.
Pelullo issued a "no comment" when BoxingScene reached him by phone regarding the information related to Andrade and Provodnikov jumping networks.
