Had Demond Nicholson taken a peek into a crystal ball before turning pro in 2013, he would’ve been horrified.
With 10 consecutive KO victories to kick off his career, the Maryland native was completely convinced that fame, fortune, and championship glory were well on its way. Up until this point, however, Nicholson’s initial thoughts were proven to be spurious.
Having suffered defeat against journeymen Lekan Byfield in just his 11th pro fight, Nicholson’s career has been an unenjoyable rollercoaster.
At times, Nicholson (26-4-1, 22 KOs) has put it all together. His flashy combinations have led to spectacular knockout victories and his long and persistent jab kept opponents at bay. But when the chips were down and he needed to be at his best, Nicholson was a no-show.
Now, after floundering as an essential gatekeeper, Nicholson has grown tired of that ambiguous label.
On January 7th, at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., Nicholson will once again enter the ring as a sizable underdog when he takes on Demetrius Andrade.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old and former two-division world champion will look to dip his toe in the super middleweight division. With his eyes set on more lucrative bouts against the likes of David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, and Jermall Charlo - Andrade views his showdown against Nicholson as a chance to wipe off the ring rust.
Nicholson, however, is sick and tired of being the bridesmaid but never the bride. With the confidence of three consecutive stoppage victories pushing him forward, Nicholson admits that on the biggest of stages, he hasn’t performed well. Steve Rolls, Jesse Hart, and Edgar Berlanga, his latest defeat, have all left Nicholson questioning himself. Nevertheless, the sting of his past failures is ostensibly fueling the fringe contender like no other.
As the 29-year-old places the finishing touches on an arduous training camp, Nicholson acknowledges that with a win come fight night, the perception surrounding his career will be changed forever.
“It’s a new beginning for me,” said Nicholson to a group of reporters. “I can rewrite my story. It’s time, it’s time to take over.”
