WBO Middleweight champ Andrade fired back at critics

As the complicated picture at middleweight continues to unfold surrounding Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin and others, WBO 160 lbs. champion, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, is growing more and more frustrated at being avoided. And, he went on the offensive Friday night.

More on that in a moment.

First, Alvarez continued to meander through possible opponents all summer and eventually got stripped of his IBF version of the middleweight crown. There had been media speculation that he might have ended up fighting the 28-0 Andrade to fulfill his obligation to Golden Boy Promotions and the DAZN streaming service. However, a fight with Canelo never materialized for the WBO champ.

There is also been conversation that Andrade would be pitted with the former undisputed champ, “Triple G,” who just captured Alvarez’s vacated IBF title by split decision over Sergey Derevyanchenko at Madison Square Garden last Saturday night.

However, even though they are both signed with DAZN, it doesn’t appear that Golovkin is inclined to fight Andrade, either.

So, champion that doesn’t seem to be in anyone’s plans, has decided to answer criticism of his supposed “boring” defensive fighting style and lack of appeal.

First, he sounded off on Twitter about having his fight last year with England’s Billy Joe Saunders called off, when Saunders failed a pre-fight drug test. Oh, and he also squeezed in a shot at Golovkin and his promoter too:

You Fans make it sound so easy..@bjsaunders_ Took PEDS, Turned it down the 2nd time our fight was ordered, and then turned down my challenge to fight him on Nov 9th at 168! @DAZN_USA has tried to get @GGGBoxing to fight me since they signed him, GGG and @TomLoeffler1 refused!

— Demetrius Andrade (@BooBooAndrade) October 11, 2019

Then, Boo Boo, wanted to make clear that he was ready and willing to have fought unbeaten WBC Middleweight Champ, Jermall Charlo, a fighter under the PBC umbrella. And also, he tried to get in the ring with unbeaten WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion, Jaime Munguia, earlier this year too, but to no avail:

We tried making a fight @FutureOfBoxing earlier this year he and Ronnie Shields said no…@jaimemunguia15 ??? Yeah ok, @GoldenBoyBoxing won’t ever let him near me!

— Demetrius Andrade (@BooBooAndrade) October 11, 2019

Finally, when a fan pointed out that the Providence, RI, native Andrade was not only convincing in his previous wins, but that he was actually scoring knockdowns and getting stoppages in his important fights, Andrade gladly chimed in:

In Boxing a boring fighter = A fighter that doesn’t get hit! Until media like @danrafaelespn @MikeCoppinger @Idecboxing @KevinI @pugboxing etc. demand the fight there is NO pressure on @Canelo to unify against me. https://t.co/HzpsUCDfn6

— Demetrius Andrade (@BooBooAndrade) October 11, 2019

It’s a bit of a stretch to include the media’s lack of “pushing for a fight(er),” as a reason that he hasn’t gotten a big shot. Still, Andrade has a point: he’s had the WBO belt in two different weight divisions over the last five years and has won six World Title fights.

He may not be the spectacular, huge name that Canelo or Golovkin are, but there are a lot lesser fighters that are getting consideration and title fights (Dennis Hogan second title shot in a year?) and it’s understandable why he’s frustrated.

And, a lot of times boxing is about promotion. Self-promotion, too.

And, Andrade doing some of it may begin to help him.