Demetrius Andrade in search of opponent with Erislandy Lara a no-go

[Ruthless-RKO]

Promoter Artie Pelullo was under the impression that Erislandy Lara and his fighter, Demetrius Andrade would be able to strike a deal for a junior middleweight unification fight in the coming months.

But with Lara now, according to Pelullo, looking for a unification fight with fellow titleholder Jarrett Hurd instead, Andrade, the undefeated southpaw, is now in need of an opponent for either June or July, Pelullo told RingTV.com on Thursday. Andrade’s name has also come up as a possible contestant in Richard Schaefer and Kalle Sauerland’s new single elimination tournament set to begin in September. But it’s all just speculation. Pelullo spoke from his hotel room in Manchester, England, where his boxer Petr Petrov is challenging lightweight titleholder Terry Flanagan on Saturday in a bout that will be live-streamed in the U.S. exclusively on Twitter.

“We were under the impression that we were going to get Lara after the fight,” Pelullo told RING, referencing Andrade’s win last month in Germany against Jack Culcay for a secondary belt. “Now Lara is back-pedaling and he doesn’t want the fight. So, we’re in a position now that we’re looking for a fight for Demetrius Andrade. And it’s not an easy task because he’s a dangerous guy.” He added of Lara, “I was told that Lara wanted to go in a direction of fighting Hurd for the unified title but in my opinion I think it’s an easier fight for Lara and that’s why he wants it.”

Pelullo said he’s been in contact with German promoter Wilfried Sauerland about possibly using Andrade in the tournament he’s staging with Schaefer. “He was talking about maybe there would be a 154-pound division in his tournament and he asked if we’d put Andrade in and I said of course we would,” Pelullo said. “If all the terms are right, we’ll do it.”

Pelullo said he’s also been approached by an entity overseas interested in staging a fight involving Andrade (24-0, 16 knockouts), though he declined to elaborate any further. “We have to keep him busy and we have to keep him active,” said Pelullo, who plans to also reach out to HBO and Showtime in the coming weeks to try to map out Andrade’s future on the premium networks

[Enlightened-One]

Over a four-year timeframe, Demetrius Andrade has competed in merely five bouts, with the only semi-decent name on his resume belonging to Vanes Martirosyan (who was ranked as the sixth best 154lb-er in 2013 – a month before their fight).

Demetrius Andrade has never earned anywhere near $300K for a fight and he also preferred to receive a cheque from Roc Nation instead of accepting the Jermell Charlo fight.

His most recent bout against Jack Culcay wasn’t even seen on American television.

Despite his obvious talents, he’s fighter that has had a terribly managed career and now he is an obscure name that possesses no credible title, without a fan-base, generates no money and is also paid very little, which means that he’s a lifelong member of the proverbial “who needs you?” club.

None of his light middleweight peers have any incentive whatsoever to share the ring with this man!

[Badhusker]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Andrade's career so far has been managed poorly. He didn't duck Charlo, by the way. He was given short notice after an agreement was made without consulting him in December of that year. He signed to fight in January, and Charlo declined to fight him, not the other way around.

There is a reason Canelo doesn't want to fight him, and it isn't anything about money. He proved that by fighting Liam Smith instead of Andrade...or Angulo, or Kirkland, etc. Now with Lara "going a different direction", a top fight will be hard to get. Lara uses the excuse that he beat Andrade already. (Andrade was 17 I believe, so about 10 years ago?) I suppose Andrade could turn down fighting Thurman for the same reason, beating him multiple times in the amateurs. Stupid reason.

In my eyes at least, he is the best at 154. I hope he gets a chance to prove it.

[Enlightened-One]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Andrade's career so far has been managed poorly. He didn't duck Charlo, by the way. He was given short notice after an agreement was made without consulting him in December of that year. He signed to fight in January, and Charlo declined to fight him, not the other way around.

"The slick southpaw was set to defend his title against Jermell Charlo on Showtime in December 2014 and would have earned a career-high payday of $300,000, but Andrade withdrew. The reason? Roc Nation Sports, who was organizing to sign fighters for its entry into boxing, offered Andrade more money to turn the fight down, [Demetrius] claims."

I only commented on what I read (click on the blue text to see the website article), with the same claims reported by multiple sources.

Andrade’s back story makes for interesting reading, because in addition to the above, when you read the Roc Nation lawsuit notes and other articles, there are all sorts of dubious decisions taken with Demetrius’ career, such as…

Erislandy Lara claiming that Demetrius Andrade has previously turned down an ESPN2 fight with him. Lara also claims that Andrade reneged on a signed contract to face Jermell Charlo. And ESPN's Dan Rafael claims that Andrade also turned down a three-fight deal with Showtime.

I don’t know if any of these claims are true of not, but a man as talented as Demetrius Andrade must have surely made an awful lot of terrible decisions with his career to have remained in obscurity for so long.

How can a fighter like Andrade gain exposure if he usually competes once per year against anonymous names, with his fights not being televised in his homeland, rejecting opportunities to have his contests covered by Showtime, allowing his world title to be stripped due to inactivity, whilst rejecting opportunities to face world-rated opponents like Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo?

[boxing_rocks]

He also declined to fight Korobov for the WBO MW title, so Andy Lee got it.

[Enlightened-One]

He also declined to fight Korobov for the WBO MW title, so Andy Lee got it.

Well spotted!

So far, it is believed that Demetrius Andrade turned down opportunities to fight Matt Korobov, Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Andrade makes it hard to give a damn.

[Andrew]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Andrade's career so far has been managed poorly. He didn't duck Charlo, by the way. He was given short notice after an agreement was made without consulting him in December of that year. He signed to fight in January, and Charlo declined to fight him, not the other way around.

"The slick southpaw was set to defend his title against Jermell Charlo on Showtime in December 2014 and would have earned a career-high payday of $300,000, but Andrade withdrew. The reason? Roc Nation Sports, who was organizing to sign fighters for its entry into boxing, offered Andrade more money to turn the fight down, [Demetrius] claims."

I only commented on what I read (click on the blue text to see the website article), with the same claims reported by multiple sources.

Andrade’s back story makes for interesting reading, because in addition to the above, when you read the Roc Nation lawsuit notes and other articles, there are all sorts of dubious decisions taken with Demetrius’ career, such as…

Erislandy Lara claiming that Demetrius Andrade has previously turned down an ESPN2 fight with him. Lara also claims that Andrade reneged on a signed contract to face Jermell Charlo. And ESPN's Dan Rafael claims that Andrade also turned down a three-fight deal with Showtime.

I don’t know if any of these claims are true of not, but a man as talented as Demetrius Andrade must have surely made an awful lot of terrible decisions with his career to have remained in obscurity for so long.

How can a fighter like Andrade gain exposure if he usually competes once per year against anonymous names, with his fights not being televised in his homeland, rejecting opportunities to have his contests covered by Showtime, allowing his world title to be stripped due to inactivity, whilst rejecting opportunities to face world-rated opponents like Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo?

Roc nation never paid him the money. He got screwed over big time by that one.

[Badhusker]

If you care to research it, Andrade explains it all.

I think (imo)Crawford, Spence, Andrade, are the best at their weights.

[Andrew]

If you care to research it, Andrade explains it all.

I think (imo)Crawford, Spence, Andrade, are the best at their weights.

Read it on BS Rocnation screwed him over.

Also promoters agreed a defence against Liam smith. But Liam smiths trainer stopped the fight happening because he wasn't ready, then he fights for the vacant title a few months later.