Next Friday, August 19th, the 2007 Amateur World Champion, and 2008 U.S. Olympian, Demetrius Andrade (13-0, 9KO’s) will step up in competition and look to make a huge statement, when he takes on dangerous veteran, and winner of Season 2 of “The Contender” Grady Brewer (28-12, 16KO’s) in the main event on this year’s finale of ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. The bout, which was put together on very short notice after the original main event fell through, is scheduled for ten rounds; the first of Andrade’s career; in the jr. middleweight division.
“Demetrius has been asking us for this type of fight,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and President of Star Boxing, co-promoter of Andrade with Banner Promotions. “A fight where he can show everyone what we already know, that he is a future world champion. Not only is he taking this dangerous fight, but he is taking it on very short notice. An impressive showing on the 19th will propel Demetrius from an upcoming prospect to true contender and serious force to be reckoned with in the jr. middleweight division.”
Critics and naysayers are a very common in the sport of boxing. Every fight fan who has ever watched a live fight, automatically believes they are an expert of the sport. Way too often, as an up and coming prospect is making his way through the ranks, these so-called boxing experts will quickly become impatient and start criticizing the prospects talent and skills, his level of opposition, and his progression.
Since turning pro in late 2008 with a second round TKO over Patrick Cape, Andrade has experienced this. Having stopped nine of his thirteen opponents, seven in two rounds or less, and losing only a handful of rounds on the official judge’s scorecards in his other four decision victories, it is clear that Andrade has been extremely dominant. This domination has led people to believe that Andrade has been matched too softly, despite his opponents having a sixty five percent win to loss ratio, including three of which were previously undefeated fighters, and five more over with just one loss on their record’s.
Now Andrade will be looking to make a huge statment to the boxing world when he squares off against the very dangerous Brewer. In addition to winning the Contender Tournament by defeating former world champion Steve Forbes, Brewer holds victories over current IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion, Cornelius Bundrage and is coming off his most impressive victory to date, a fourth round TKO over highly regarded Fernando Guerrero (21-0, 16KO’s at the time) in June of this year.
“I’m ready to put on an exciting performance come August 19th,” stated Andrade. “Brewer is a tough opponent, but I am just too fast and too strong for him, and everyone will see that fight night. This is a huge fight for me, as a win will propel me into the world ratings, and put me in line to start facing the top fighters in the jr. middleweight division.”
The Andrade-Brewer bout is scheduled for ten rounds in the jr. middleweight division and is promoted by Star Boxing and Banner Promotions. ESPN will begin live coverage starting at 9PM ET.
