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Demetrius Andrade (24-0, 16 KOs) may well be the best junior middleweight in the world, but we won’t know that for sure until he gets the fights to prove it. After going through a long stretch of promotional turmoil, Andrade and his fans have been hopeful that he would get his boxing career back on track and keep busy. That’s proven to be a little difficult, however.
Over the last year Andrade, 29, would put on a masterful performance against Willie Nelson in June, en-route to a 12th round stoppage, and then a much less impressive split decision win over Jack Culcay this past March — although a win just the same.
Following his win over Culcay for the WBA’s secondary title, Andrade was hoping to get a shot at full titleholder Erislandy Lara after having his major world title stripped in 2015 because of inactivity. And while it was beginning to look like a big fight between two of the division’s best was on its way, Andrade’s promoter Artie Pellulo tells RingTV that Erislandy has shied away from the fight, looking instead to unify titles with IBF champion Jarrett Hurd.
“We were under the impression that we were going to get Lara after the fight,” Pelullo told RING, referencing Andrade’s win last month in Germany against Jack Culcay for a secondary belt. “Now Lara is back-pedaling and he doesn’t want the fight. So, we’re in a position now that we’re looking for a fight for Demetrius Andrade. And it’s not an easy task because he’s a dangerous guy.” He added of Lara, “I was told that Lara wanted to go in a direction of fighting Hurd for the unified title but in my opinion I think it’s an easier fight for Lara and that’s why he wants it.”
Now, with Andrade back on the hunt for notable fights, Pellulo mentions that their camp has been in contact with German promoter Wilfried Sauerland about possibly entering Andrade into the tournament he’s staging with Richard Schaefer. That’s still far from a done-deal at this point, though, but Pellulo does say that they have to keep Andrade active.