Providence's Demetrius 'Boo Boo' Andrade is ready to get back in the ring; who'll he fight?
Don’t expect Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade to take in the atmosphere on Saturday night.
The bright lights of Michelob Ultra Arena and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas will shine on the Providence native. But his focus will be across the ring and center on one man.
David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is the opponent in this super middleweight bout, and he’ll require all of Andrade’s attention. Veteran fighter matches up with emerging star at 168 pounds. Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) will lean on his experience over a 15-year professional career to counter the thunder in Benavidez’s gloves.
“I focus on my mission, and that’s getting ready to get in shape and whoop [butt},” Andrade said late last week. “Have an undefeated record, of course, and become a three-division world champ. That’s really where my sight is.”
Andrade has seen this sort of thing before. He’s 35, a two-time Golden Gloves champion and a 2008 Olympian. His pair of belts at junior middleweight and middleweight came thanks to a slick southpaw style, one that befuddles opponents and makes him a significant risk to book opposite premium talent.
More: BOUT TIME: Demetrius Andrade is looking for his breakthrough fight
How does that translate in the sport? Andrade has fought just four times since outclassing Maciej Sulecki at the former Dunkin’ Donuts Center in June 2019. He didn’t appear in 2022 and tuned up for this meeting with Benavidez by notching a unanimous decision win against Demond Nicholson in January.
“This is my livelihood,” Andrade said. “I’m going to stay focused and always be in the gym throughout the year.
“Even though something is not on paper, I’m always going to give myself the best I can. That’s always staying in shape and always being on my job when these phone calls come. This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation.
“It’s been like this pretty much my whole career. I’m always prepared.”
How has Boo Boo Andrade trained for this fight?
Andrade has spent this training camp in suburban San Jose at SNAC Nutrition, a facility run by trainer Victor Conte that counts Andre Ward, Nonito Donaire and Andre Berto as past clients. Andrade is ready to counter slight height and reach advantages enjoyed by Benavidez, a past two-time WBC champion at super middleweight. Age and recent activity level are the widest variables between the two men — Benavidez, at just 26, scored a unanimous decision victory over Caleb Plant in March.
“He’s doing the best he can with everything he has,” Andrade said. “I’m proud of the kid at the same time. Boxing’s not easy. I'm happy for him.
“But unfortunately, he’s going to get his [butt] whooped. It’s alright to lose against Demetrius Andrade. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a great fight.”
Opportunity knocks for both Andrade and Benavidez with a victory. The bonus prize could be a future date with Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs), one of the sport’s pound-for-pound kings and a prime draw at the box office. Alvarez has been in with some of the premier fighters of his generation — Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto and Gennady Golovkin, just to name a few — and enjoys a massive fan backing thanks to his Mexican roots.
“Everybody’s trying to get paid over time,” Andrade said. “But it is what it is. If you can beat me, you know what that means to the boxing world. If you feel like you can do that, then let’s get it.
“At the end of the day, you’re still going to get paid the most fighting me. Anybody who ever fought me always got paid the most. Nobody ever got less money fighting me — they got the most money fighting me.
“That excuse is just bizarre to me.”
How to watch Andrade vs. Benavidez
Saturday’s card starts at 9 p.m. on Showtime PPV. The price tag of $74.99 includes a co-feature between middleweight standouts, with Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KO) taking on Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-2-1, 19 KO). Charlo is back in the ring for the first time since defeating Juan Macias Montiel by unanimous decision in June 2021.
Andrade expects to leave tickets at the venue for a host of family and friends. His guest list could include fellow Rhode Island native Will Blackmon, an avid fight fan and former NFL defensive back who currently lives a short plane ride away in the Los Angeles area. Benavidez figures to have considerable backing as a Las Vegas resident and Phoenix native.
“I’ll make sure somebody like (Blackmon) can come have access and come say hello,” Andrade said. “But he’s a supporter — he's going to buy his own ticket. Of course, no problem for somebody like that.”
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Demetrius 'Boo Boo' Andrade faces David Benavidez in Las Vegas Saturday
