Luke Keeler: Demetrius Andrade hasn’t fought anyone elite, may be a bit deluded

Luke Keeler will be an enormous underdog when he challenges WBO middleweight titleholder Demetrius Andrade on Jan. 30 in Miami, but the 32-year-old from Dublin thinks that Andrade may be getting ahead of himself just counting it as a win in the big, and he also doesn’t think much of Andrade’s undefeated record.

“He’s really talking himself up,” said Keeler. “I don’t know if he believes it or he’s a bit deluded, but he hasn’t produced it in the ring yet. He hasn’t really fought anyone elite, I think he is going to overlook me and I think he is that deluded that he believes he’s one of the greatest and he just has to turn up to win. That’s going to count against him and I am taking that belt with both hands.

“He’s already talking about the [Jermall] Charlo fight and that’s a dangerous mindset when I am coming in with my lottery ticket basically. I’m merely a hindrance to him.”

Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KO) admits his own record isn’t spotless, but says he’s got no pressure going into this fight, and feels relaxed.

“I don’t have a great record on paper, there’s a couple of losses on there that shouldn’t have been losses, so he can look past me,” he said. “I think I am a banana skin to him, there’s no pressure on me, for me it’s easy. When you go in against guys you are expected to win it’s tough, this is easy mentally, and it’s lifted me as I know it’s a life-changing chance for me. Win this fight and you are talking a contract with DAZN and massive pay days in huge fights.”

Andrade (28-0, 17 KO) has won world titles in two divisions, but Keeler isn’t necessarily wrong that the Rhode Island native lacks a signature win to date, and Keeler believes, too, that many opponents pay Andrade an undue amount of respect.

“I want to win his world title and move on,” he said. “Some of these guys go in respecting him too much, fear him in there, and I am going in there to rip it from him. He talks about being the best middleweight out there, but he hasn’t proven it yet, and I will prove him wrong on the night.”