Demetrius Andrade (25-0, 16 KOs) is back in world title contention this weekend, when he takes on Walter Kautondokwa (17-0, 16 KOs) for the vacant WBO middleweight title in Boston. Andrade had originally been set to challenge Billy Joe Saunders for the title, but following a failed VADA drug test Saunders’ could not be licensed in Massachusetts and voluntarily gave up the belt.
Andrade is expected to beat Kautondokwa, largely because Kautondokwa is unknown from Namibia, and looking ahead to what the middleweight division has to offer Andrade sees a lot of promise. Here’s what he told Sky Sports:
“I think middleweight can be the new glamour division in boxing. We have big names at 160lbs and if you look at 154lbs, those guys are going to grow and they’ll have to come up – look at Jarrett Hurd, he’s a big dude.
“If everyone involved with the elite does their jobs, we can make these big fights. The window is starting to close on those fights though, people get old, people move on, and people look to run around and fight lesser guys like the Charlos do.
Andrade continues by saying that he moved up to 160lbs so that he can prove that he’s the best out there against the best competition available, and for as inactive as he’s been over the years he should be looking to strike while the iron’s hot. And should Andrade come out of this weekend with the WBO title in his hand, he says he’s ready to take on all-comers.
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