Providence native and former U.S. Olympian and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Middleweight world championDemetrius Andrade returns to the ring for the first time in 16 months on Saturday, Oct. 17th, 2015 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn.
“It’s been a year and a half now,” Andrade said Tuesday during a press conference at the Rhode Island State House. “Fourteen, 15 months of me not in the ring showing and displaying my true talents and what I can do for the sport of boxing, but now I have the privilege to be here in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun, 45 minutes away where you can come see me put somebody to sleep, hopefully.”
The undefeated Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs) will fight for the vacant WBO International Junior Middleweight title in the main event of a card promoted by Jimmy Burchfield’s CES Boxing in association with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and Artie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions.
Tickets for the event are priced at $25.00, $50.00, $125.00 and $200.00 (VIP) and available for purchase online at www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com,www.ticketmaster.com, by phone at 401-724-2253/2254, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. All fights and fighters are subject to change.
“A lot of people still don’t know who Demetrius is,” Burchfield said. “There are a lot of people who’ve been waiting for Demetrius to fight in this area. No matter where I go they ask me when ‘Boo Boo’ is fighting here. First of all, I want to thank Art Pelullo and Banner from Philadelphia and Joe DeGuardia and Star Boxing from the Bronx.
“There are promoters that work together. Not all of them, but there are some promoters that are the best in the business and they work together for the benefit of the fighter. Everyone understands that’s why we’re here at the State House today. That’s why I wanted to have this here at the State House, because this state belongs to Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade. He is going to be our franchise. Soon, everyone will know what they’ve been missing.”
QUOTES:
GARY BALLETTO
“Demetrius Andrade was training in my gym when I was fighting on ESPN2 every other month and I used to line up my sparring partners and when Demetrius was 14 or 15, he’d be one of the guys in the lineup to spar with. I used to get so frustrated because I couldn’t hit this guy. I couldn’t hit this kid! It took me until he got real tired to land a punch on him. He’s been so naturally gifted since the day he started. I always tell my son, because he has natural defense, you have to have a natural defense and a natural ability before you ever start boxing and you can tell where they’re going to go with it. Demetrius, to me, is the best fighter in the world. He’s the best. I could put him in with any fighter in his weight division in the world and I would bet whatever I have on him.”
PAUL ANDRADE
“I want to set something a little straight here. Jimmy was generous to our promoters and they allowed it, but this was Jimmy’s doing. They offered us a fight in Russia, a fight over here, we said, no, we’re fighting at home, and if they can’t do it, we’ll see Jimmy. So I went and saw Jimmy, we had a nice little meeting and thanks to Jimmy, we’re here.”
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE
“First of all, I want to thank everyone for coming out, and CES Boxing for putting the show together. October 17th. It’s been a year and a half now. I don’t know, 14, 15 months of me not in the ring showing and displaying my true talents and what I can do for the sport of boxing, but now I have the privilege to be here in Connecticut, Mohegan Sun, 45 minutes away where you can come see me put somebody to sleep, hopefully.
Before that, I want to let people know a true champ is someone that stays in the gym 24/7. A true champ is somebody that dedicates his time and efforts to whatever it is that’s going to make him better in and out of the ring. I haven’t fought in 16 months, but I’m in the gym helping out Nick DeLomba get some sparring for his fights, Thomas Falowo – anybody in New England that needs help, I’m there for them. I traveled to Vegas to help Shawn Porter get ready for his fight against Kell Brook, and much more just so I can stay sharp and so that once this opportunity came to me I wouldn’t have to get ready to fight. I’m already ready to fight.
For all of you young fighters here and all of the dreams and goals you have in your mind, set them up, visualize them, accomplish them. Accomplish what you want to do in this sport of boxing. It’s rough and it’s tough. Gary Balletto, he’s been in it. He knows I’ve been it since I was ye high. The reason I didn’t want him hitting me is because I didn’t want to get hit. That boy hit hard! I was dipping and dodging those punches. The things I’ve seen him do to everyone else, hell no.
I do want to thank my dad, Paul Andrade, for sticking it out and making sure I had everything I needed to prosper in the sport of boxing. Even though we had our ups and downs, we’re back together because there’s nothing more important than family. I also want to thank Ed Farris. He’s been with me since I was 14 years old. I came to a time and point in my life where I needed some real help. He made it happen for me, man. I’m living good, I made some good investments and now I’m just ready to fight man. I can’t wait to put on a fresh pair of gloves.
