PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP)—U.S. Olympic boxer Demetrius Andrade will make his professional debut Oct. 23 at the Northern Quest Casino in eastern Washington state.
The 20-year-old Providence fighter formally announced the beginning of his pro career Wednesday in a ceremony attended by several Rhode Island officials, including the lieutenant governor and the mayor, who presented Andrade with a key to the city.
“I am looking forward to making all of you here very proud,” Andrade said.
Andrade’s opponent for his 154-pound bout hasn’t yet been selected. He will appear in the first televised fight on the undercard of Orlando Salido’s featherweight bout with Cristobal Cruz for the vacant IBF title on Versus in Airway Heights, Wash.
Andrade was the world champion amateur welterweight in 2007, but lost to South Korea’s Kim Jung-joo in a quarterfinal bout in Beijing last month. The gold medal favorite angrily criticized the judging after his loss, echoing the complaints of several fighters on an American team that came home with just one bronze medal.
The 20-year-old Providence fighter formally announced the beginning of his pro career Wednesday in a ceremony attended by several Rhode Island officials, including the lieutenant governor and the mayor, who presented Andrade with a key to the city.
“I am looking forward to making all of you here very proud,” Andrade said.
Andrade’s opponent for his 154-pound bout hasn’t yet been selected. He will appear in the first televised fight on the undercard of Orlando Salido’s featherweight bout with Cristobal Cruz for the vacant IBF title on Versus in Airway Heights, Wash.
Andrade was the world champion amateur welterweight in 2007, but lost to South Korea’s Kim Jung-joo in a quarterfinal bout in Beijing last month. The gold medal favorite angrily criticized the judging after his loss, echoing the complaints of several fighters on an American team that came home with just one bronze medal.
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