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Demetrius Andrade Following
Plan
NABO Junior Middleweight Title Fight Feb. 10 vs. Derek Ennis
on ESPN FNF live from Mohegan Sun
Undefeated 2008 U.S. Olympian Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade
believes his February 10 main-event fight against former
USBA junior middleweight champion Derek "Pooh" Ennis, for
the vacant North American Boxing Organization ("NABO")
junior middleweight title, is a continuation of a well
designed plan, eventually landing him a world title fight
later this year or in early 2013.
With world title belt implications for the winner,
Andrade-Ennis headlines the Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing show
on ESPN Friday Night Fights at Mohegan Sun Arena in
Uncasville, Connecticut.
Andrade (15-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of nearby Providence,
was a much decorated amateur who in 2007 became the first
American since 1999 to capture a gold medal at the World
Amateur Championships. The talented 23-year-old from
Providence is ranked in the top 15 of all four major
governing bodies: No. 9 by the World Boxing Organization
("WBO"), No. 13 by the International Boxing Federation
("IBF") and World Boxing Council ("WBC") and No. 15 by the
World Boxing Association ("WBA"). He is co-promoted by Star
Boxing and Banner Promotions.
"This fight will put me in a good position and let people
know that I'm coming hard," Andrade said. "I will be there
soon (world champion) but I'm in no rush. I've been handled
the right way. We're following the game plan and picking the
right fights. Once I get up to 20-0 or so, I'll be ready to
call out the big guys like (Canelo) Alvarez.
"I've improved a lot since I turned pro, mentally and
physically. I've kept my head on straight, remained focused
and have had no distractions at all - in or out of the ring.
Physically, I'm in tip-top shape, able to handle whatever
comes my way."
IBF No. 9-rated Ennis (23-3-1, 13 KOs) is carrying on the
rich tradition of other tough Philadelphia fighters before
him such as Joey Giardello, Jeff Chandler, Bernie Briscoe
and so many others from the City of Brotherly Love.
"I don't know too much about Ennis other than his record and
that he has a good style," Demetrius remarked. "We're
looking to step-up and fight guys like him. We're going to
make this show rock. I'm going for a big win."
Like Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Roy Jones, Jr. before him,
Andrade is an exceptionally gifted boxer who has been
unfairly tabbed a "safety-first fighter" because he makes
fights look so easy and effortless. Boxing, though, is about
hitting your opponent without getting hit. Andrade has done
just that and much more during his perfect pro career to
this point. The slick southpaw has been thoroughly dominant
in his 15 pro fights, knocking out 10 opponents, and winning
all but four of 59 rounds on the judges' scorecards.
"Sometimes, it's funny to me that, when I win by a decision,
some people get mad because I didn't knockout my opponent,"
Andrade explained. "But they still get mad when I win by
knockout. Whenever I fight, I bring a different look and
nobody can say I don't. I beat (Grady) Brewer with my jab
and I went to (Saul) Duran's body with power punches until
he quit.
"Each and every fight, I'm better, stronger - stepping-up
against better competition - and I'm still winning."
Tickets are $75.00, $40.00 and $30.00 (plus $5.00 facility
fee for all tickets) and are on sale now through
Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to
ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster's national toll free
Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any
Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets are also available at the
Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability, or by
calling Star Boxing at 1.718.823.2000 and online via
www.StarBoxing.com.
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