By Phil D. Jay

Super middleweight Andre Dirrell returns to action on August 5th after a seventeen-month absence through injury and will face Canadian former world middleweight title challenger Sebastien Demers. The 27 year-old pulled out of the Super-Six tournament in October 2010 despite being lined-up to meet the now-finalist and WBA champion Andre Ward and on course to make the semi-finals.

The Flint-born fighter has just one loss (which came in the Super-Six against Carl Forch) in 20 bouts and meets Demers, 31, on the back of an eleventh round stoppage win over Arthur Abraham in March 2010.

His opponent ‘Double Trouble’ has lost his last two fights to Renan St. Juste and Brian Vera and also lost to then IBF middleweight champion Abraham in May 2007 in his solitary world title fight at 160lbs.

The Quebec-based boxer is a huge underdog for the bout, but told Canadian website 24 hours he is excited by the challenge.

"Few people expect that I win, I have absolutely nothing to lose,” said Demers.

“If I win or I'm go the distance, it will certainly open doors for me. This is a great opportunity and I have no pressure."

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net