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WBO orders Demetrius Andrade vs Matt Korobov for middleweight title

Demetrius Andrade is hoping to become a two-weight champion, as the WBO has ordered that he face Matt Korobov for their middleweight title.

The WBO has ordered a fight between current junior middleweight titleholder Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade and Matt Korobov to fill the vacancy left by Peter Quillin at middleweight, and it sounds as if the fight will come together soon.

"We are very happy and delighted that the WBO has given Demetrius Andrade this great opportunity to fight for the Middleweight world title," said Banner Promotions CEO Artie Pelullo, who co-promotes Andrade.

"It's a great opportunity for Demetrius to become a two-division world champion. Matt Korobov and Demetrius Andrade were both 2007 world amateur champions & 2008 Olympians. Demetrius from the United States and Korobov from Russia. As professionals they are both undefeated and their paths will finally cross."

Andrade (21-0, 14 KO) won the vacant junior middleweight belt in November 2013, beating Vanes Martirosyan. He defended the belt on HBO in June, trouncing Brian Rose. Korobov (24-0, 14 KO) beat Jose Uzcategui in June on HBO, and was named Quillin's mandatory challenger shortly after.

A purse bid was ordered, which was surprisingly won by the new Roc Nation Sports, affiliated with Jay-Z. The fight won't happen, though, as Quillin instead vacated the belt rather than face Korobov and make a career-high $1.4 million purse, supposedly under advisement from Al Haymon.

"My partner Joe DeGuardia and I will get on the phone and call Bob Arum, who promotes Korobov and try to make this fight happen this fall," Pellulo said.

"I am pleased that the WBO has granted Demetrius the opportunity to add another World Championship to his impressive accomplishments. We hope and expect that this will be the second of many more Championships that he will acquire" said DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing.

"I would like to thank the WBO for having faith in us and giving us the opportunity," said Andrade's father/trainer Paul Andrade.

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