Drop Andrade early or face defeat, Liam
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE is undefeated and has been a world champion for seven years, yet that is not enough to make him a marquee name.
I first clocked him at the 2007 world amateur championships in Chicago. Though his talent was obvious, his pro career has never really sizzled.
The big fight has never been there for Andrade (defeating Ireland’s Luke Keeler last year, top). He lacks the star power to persuade rival broadcasters and promoters to do business.
He has since moved from super welterweight to middle, and is ready to go up again to land the big fish that is Saul Canelo Alvarez.
But before that, tonight in Florida, he faces Welshman Liam Williams to retain his WBO middleweight title. Like Andrade, Williams, 28, has campaigned for most of his career at super welterweight.
Williams looks stronger at middle, more robust. There was some hesitancy at super welter. Now he just steams into everybody.
They have a common opponent, Alantez Fox. Williams stopped him in 2019 (right). Andrade had to go the distance two years earlier and get off the carpet in the seventh.
Andrade has fought the better opposition, even if his record lacks household names. He is a southpaw and notoriously hard to hit clean. He likes to dictate the pace, to slow it down and mess with his opponents, confuse them.
He is also a spiteful puncher, and can really whack with the back hand, which is frequently delivered a la Joe Calzaghe with a cuff-like blow.
Williams is a front-foot fighter, which is the way to go against Andrade. He has to put him under pressure and keep him there. Southpaws can easily take your jab away and then, when you stop jabbing, you are in peril.
Placing shots is difficult against Andrade, who crouches down, crab-like. But you have to continue with the jab, no matter how frustrating.
Just hit something – shoulder, chest, whatever – then look to fire the back hand or land the left hook.
Easier said than done.
Andrade has the edge in pedigree. I suspect Williams might get picked apart but, if he drops the 33-year-old early, that could change everything for him.