Kessler vs. Andrade On HBO B.A.D. Tonight
Little Known California Fighter Set To Steal The Show

Written By William Trillo
Photo: Sumio Yamada
 

Over the past year Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and I have not seen eye to eye on a few topics, but I am pleased to say that after our phone conversation on Friday afternoon we both agree that # 1 WBC Super Middleweight Librado Andrade (24-0,18 KO's) is set to, as Schaefer said "Shock the World on Saturday night when he defeats WBC/WBA Super Middle Champ Mikkel Kessler(38-0,29 KO's)!"  Set as a 5 to 1 underdog in most gambling circles, Andrade has earned little if any respect from the boxing pundits at large. With the exception of a few of us in Southern California who have seen Andrade earn his way up from the trenches, most people have no idea who Librado is, the rest can't even pronounce his name.
 
Andrade has flown seemingly under the radar for most of his career and although he has been with Golden Boy Promotions for a good portion of his undefeated tear, he has yet to be featured on any of the "Big" Golden Boy cards, and that lack of exposure has kept him in Stealth mode. When asked about his lack of notoriety Schaefer pointed out, "The process to get Andrade to this point has been quite long,I agree, but we have featured him on HBO Latino and Telefutura in Main Events numerous times. He earned his way up to the number one slot last year, but Beyer paid Librado well to step aside and to wait while he fought Kessler to unify the belts. I give Librado credit, he has been very patient and now that patience will pay off."
 
Again, I agree that Andrade is going to reap the rewards of his patience tonight, but I am a tad skeptical about the exposure time Andrade has received and the quality thereof. HBO Latino was scrapped due to it's low ratings and although Telefutura is huge in the Hispanic market, most English speaking boxing fans in the U.S.A. are in the dark about Andrade's skills. "After tomorrow night everyone will know who Librado is," said Schaefer, and with that, I too agree.
 
Call it fate, destiny or just good luck, the fact that the Andrade vs. Kessler fight from Denmark is being packaged on an HBO Boxing After Dark card that will replay the Barrera/Juarez Classic from last week can only add to the exposure Andrade and Kessler both have been long overdue for.
 
Making the trip to Denmark for Golden Boy will be executive V.P. Raul Jaimes. With all the traveling Golden Boy Exec's have done over the year due to their "star" attractions, there is no doubt that the Golden Boy staff drew straws for who had to make the transcontinental flight and Jaimes came up with the short one. Fear not Raul, this is a trip well worth it, and you will be calling Richard and Oscar to announce that Golden Boy has another World Champion and you just witnessed another fight of the year candidate.
 
Yes, I Said Makings Of A Fight Of The Year Candidate
So,you ask, how is it a couple of fighters who have not seen the light of any true major cards are going to be involved in a fight of the year? Let me tell you.
 
What we have here is two undefeated fighters who know they are going to be seen by a huge market on Saturday night and they are both bursting to display their stuff. And they both got a lot of stuff.
 
Kessler is a marksman from the outside and he uses a nice jab to set up a right hand that destroyed Champion Marcus Beyer in rapid fashion. Kessler is a classic European fighter who has dominated his fights and is looking to launch himself into the limelight. His right hand is his key and the question will be if he lands one, will Andrade be able to shake off it's effect's.
 
Andrade on the other hand is everything you would expect to see from a Mexican boxer and more. Andrade can match jabs with Kessler with ease, but he probably won't, instead he will go to his strengths, and that will be a barrage of hooks to both the body and head as well as inside fighting that Kessler not only has never had to deal with, but I for one am sure he won't be able to deal with it tonight. Andrade will be within striking distance for Kessler, but Librado knows how to use his angles like no other, and Kessler may never get a clean shot. Although Andrade has never really had his chin tested because of his movement, he has been whacked pretty good on occasion and has always weathered the storm.
   
On paper, this is a boxing fans match made in Heaven. I know I know, it wouldn't be the first time a fight like this one promised excitement and turned into a stinker...but if I was you, I wouldn't miss this one for the World. 
 
Local Writers Misconceptions
I am flabbergasted by the number of Los Angeles media who described Andrade as, plodding, and a clubber. Who exactly were they watching. The picture painted in those terms is less than educated and quite frankly, just wrong!!
 
Okay, yes I have known Librado since before he was a pro and my view may be called slanted, but here I go anyway. As I said earlier, Librado uses angles and counters as well as any fighter I have seen, his movement on the inside is a beautiful thing to witness, and if you really pay attention you can see Librado playing Chess in the ring, setting up punches and moves long before he unleashes their fury. The young man, and his brother Enrique Ornelas for that matter, are both naturally gifted athletes and to refer to either one as a plodding clubber is ...well...you don't know what you are talking about.   
 
"The Sparring Session" and "The Tape"
In case you haven't heard, Mikkel Kessler made his way to Andrade's home gym in La Habra, California in the early part of 2005 and yes, they did spar, and yes, it was all captured on tape, it's not a myth. What has become mythical though is what transpired during that sparring session.
 
Kessler was quoted as saying he had an easy time with Andrade. Andade will tell you it was just a sparring session, but any of the talk about Kessler's lazar Jab and right hands certainly didn't manifest themselves in that sparring session.
 
What I also am finding a tad amusing is some reporters who lay claim to seeing this "secret" video when no one else has, citing their great connection with Andrade as the reason they were allowed to see "The Tape".
 
Get over yourselves boys, really all you had to do was ask. And truth be told, if you really saw it, you know just like I do, there is nothing conclusive on that tape to the layman, and in my book, anyone who thinks Andrade is a plodder/Clubber is a layman.
 
The tape has been a great tool for Andrade's trainer Wayne McCullough, and he has picked it apart and both he and Librado have a game plan set for Kessler.
 
And what about that session you ask? Okay, I will tell you, and not because I saw the tape, but because I was there when the session took place, I saw it first hand. Simply put, Librado had just come of a fight two weeks earlier and really wasn't ready for this, but he chose to help, quite frankly because he and Mikkel got along very well. Kessler on the other hand was making ready for Anthony Mundine and he was in the process of sharpening his skills for that battle.
 
The rounds all went like this, both fighters respected each other and it was not a war, it was sparring, plain and simple, Kessler threw his standard Jab and right hands as expected. Andrade used movement and got inside to do some light body work followed by uppers or hooks, then they stepped back and did that all over again. Make of that what you will, it was just another day at the gym.
 
What no one has mentioned though is that Kessler also sparred Andrade's brother Enrique Ornelas, and that was a different story. In my mind Ornelas gave Kessler fits with movement and punches from all angles.  I am sure McCullough has jotted that down in his notes.
 
I finally saw The Tape" a month or two ago and it was just as I remembered from that day, which amazes me because I don't even remember what I had for dinner yesterday. But it was what it was...sparring.
 
And just to pacify myself I watched "The Tape" on Friday, just getting myself pumped for Saturday night. I was tempted to give you all a sneak preview with some footage, but I decided against it, for obvious reasons. But here are some stills for you until tonight...enjoy!!  :)  
 
Kessler (black shirt)  Andrade (white shirt)
 
 


Questions Or Comments? Email Will "The Thrill" Trillo