Is Canelo vacating WBO title to avoid Demetrius Andrade?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez just captured the WBO junior middleweight title last Saturday night in defeating the obscure WBO 154lb belt holder Liam “Beefy” Smith in a fight that believe it or not was televised on HBO pay-per-view. It was an awful fight that few boxing fans wanted to see, and fewer likely wanted to pay for. But now that Canelo has the WBO 154lb title in his possession, he’s in the cross-hairs of the talented 2008 U.S Olympian and former WBO 154lb champion Demetrius (23-0, 16 KOs), who would like nothing better than to get the Golden Boy promoted Canelo inside the ring to pluck him clean in a Mayweather-esque fashion.

What was surprising – or not so surprising – was how Canelo immediately was talking about his fight last Saturday being his last one at 154. In other words, Canelo will be moving up in weight to start campaigning as a middleweight.

Some boxing fans see this as convenient for Canelo, because if he stays at 154, he’ll need to make a defense against the 6’1” Andrade, who can do everything that Mayweather can do, but with greater punching power and from the southpaw stance. Andrade would be a nightmare for Canelo. Andrade is a big junior middleweight, who easily could compete at the highest level at 160 if he wanted to. If Canelo stayed at 154, he would need to fight Andrade and that’s where we could see Canelo get beaten again.

Canelo said after the Liam Smith, “I fear no one,” and yet he appears to be moving away from one of his most dangerous opponents in years in Demetrius Andrade by moving up to 160, and we still don’t know if he’ll be fighting Gennady Golovkin next year.

Given the choice between seeing Canelo quietly vacating his WBO 154lb title to move up to 160 to face Billy Joe Saunders or staying at 154 to defend the title against Demetrius Andrade, I’d take the Canelo-Andrade fight any day. Saunders is little more than the middleweight division’s version of Liam Smith from the way I see it. It’s going to be another mismatch. Saunders can’t punch, and he runs out of gas after six rounds.

[SFW]

Oscar will fight to obtain the path of least resistance for Canelo, and Andrade & GGG are far from that. But, Canelo has shown he will overrule GBP and take a risky fight like Lara. There's evidence both ways on Canelo's choice of opponents, he has shown reluctance but also shown that desire for greatness. Hopefully he chooses his own mind and not just the most convenient business venture.

[boxing_rocks]

Canelo would beat Andrade on cards of corrupt judges, but he will look limited again. Also, with every fight it takes him more effort to make weight even with all "technologies" he is using, so he may be at a point where making 154 makes his stamina unacceptable for facing good opponents.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

YES because Andrade might be a bit toooo slick

[Enlightened-One]

Some boxing fans see this as convenient for Canelo, because if he stays at 154, he’ll need to make a defense against the 6’1” Andrade, who can do everything that Mayweather can do, but with greater punching power and from the southpaw stance.

Canelo would beat Andrade on cards of corrupt judges...

Is Canelo vacating WBO title to avoid Demetrius Andrade? YES because Andrade might be a bit toooo slick :OhYes

So one person believes that Andrade is better than Floyd Mayweather Jr, another one believes that bribery, corruption and other illegal practices would be used to “protect” Canelo’s resume, whilst another individual blatantly accuses Alvarez of ducking Andrade?

OMFG!

[GPTM1403]

Considering the weigh in antics it is most likely he can't make the weight and we know he likes an advantage, if even with the tech he can't properly make the weight then he will lose one of his advantages.

[tigermoth87]

I'm inclined to think the worst of Canyellow after his ducking of GGG.

[Badhusker]

I would say absolutely. He had a chance or chances to fight Andrade when he had the title. Now he fights Smith after Andrade is stripped. Andrade would beat Canelo imo.

[gilgamesh]

No. The whole thing about moving down to 154 in the first place was just to get an title grab, and keep up his "I'm not a middleweight BS". This way he can call himself a 3 time World Champion or whatever even though the last one was nothing more than a paper title. I never expected him to defend it.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

I would say absolutely. He had a chance or chances to fight Andrade when he had the title. Now he fights Smith after Andrade is stripped. Andrade would beat Canelo imo.

Rather easily and more decisively than Lara or Trout (if you believe they won).

Andrade has a body and style Canelo wouldn't be able to handle.

[Andrew]

Andrade is fighting Culcay for the BS WBA belt isn't he ?

[Tanzio]

I am certain Andrade would be happy to fight GingerHead at any weight.

[Badhusker]

I really wish Andrade would move up soon. I think he is more of a challenge for GGG than anyone due to his size and skill. Canelo will never fight him at 154.

[boxing_rocks]

I am certain Andrade would be happy to fight GingerHead at any weight.

My question is why Andrade has been so awfully quiet ??? Why hasn't he gone Shannon Briggs or at least Erislandy Lara on Canelo ? Why didn't he come to the post-fight presser and call Canelo out saying that he is better than Canelo, will beat him at any weight and then fight Golovkin without warm-up fights and unrealistic conditions ?

Maybe Andrade is not so sure that he can beat or at least get a decision against Canelo ? Andrade did look worse against Vanes than Lara, and maybe we are overrating him ?

[Badhusker]

I am certain Andrade would be happy to fight GingerHead at any weight.

My question is why Andrade has been so awfully quiet ??? Why hasn't he gone Shannon Briggs or at least Erislandy Lara on Canelo ? Why didn't he come to the post-fight presser and call Canelo out saying that he is better than Canelo, will beat him at any weight and then fight Golovkin without warm-up fights and unrealistic conditions ?

Maybe Andrade is not so sure that he can beat or at least get a decision against Canelo ? Andrade did look worse against Vanes than Lara, and maybe we are overrating him ?

,

Andrade has called out Canelo for about 2 years now. Andrade looked worse against Vanes than Lara? He had a flash kd when off balance, yes, but landed about 100 more punches and the fight was not as close as the cards. Lara struggled with Vanes. According to a guy that trained them both, says Andrade has better boxing skills with more power. Also 3 or 4 inches in height and a reach advantage over Lara. I would love to see that fight.

http://www.badlefthook.com/2016/6/7/118 ... -and-smith

[Enlightened-One]

The only time Demetrius Andrade faced a top-tier world-rated opponent was almost three years ago.

He’s only competed four times in the last three years eight months, and barring Vanes Martirosyan, he’s only ever faced anonymous names.

And yet somebody on this thread believes that Andrade is better than Floyd Mayweather Jr, another one believes that bribery, corruption and other illegal practices would be used to “protect” Canelo’s resume if he fought Demetrius, whilst another individual blatantly accuses Alvarez of ducking Andrade… to the point he’s had to move up a weight division?

In the context of mainstream fight fans, nobody knows who Demetrius Andrade is, his resume is not impressive, a victory over this man carries little prestige (due to his anonymity), he does not hold a world title and he does not bring any money to the table either… so I’d be surprised if anyone shows a genuine interest in fighting this man!

For the record, I’ve watched a few of Demetrius Andrade’s fights and I know he’s a talented guy, but his inactivity, weak resume and relative anonymity undermines any sincere claims that he’s the number one rated 154lb-er. I'm not saying he cannot one day earn the right to hold that moniker, as he clearly has the potential, but I am suggesting that it’s a preposterous notion to believe that he already holds it.

Simply put: Canelo is not afraid of Andrade!