Having won Gold in Chicago at the World Championships the future seemed bright for Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade. There were high expectation’s that he would parlay that into an Olympic Gold the ultimate glory for an amateur. However the Rhode Island native lost a close, controversial decision in the Quarter Finals. He wasted little time electing to turn professional under the guidance of Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and Joey DeGuardia who heads up STAR Boxing who co-promote him in late 2008. He fought twice in the remainder or the year and six more times in 2009, however he wasn’t nearly as active in 2010 fighting just the three times. He gets back to business and hopes to use this Friday’s ESPN2 fight with Alberto Herrera at Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nv. as a springboard to a strong year. He’s 11-0(8) and only 22 years old with the world at his feet. Andrade is a fun character who likes to have a laugh but is deadly serious about one thing, becoming one of the new breed of Boxing stars.
Hello Demetrius, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – You will be returning to action on 7 January on ESPN2 against Sammy Gonzalez. What can you tell us about this fight?
Demetrius Andrade – Actually ESPN changed my opponent to Alberto Herrera from Riverside, CA. but he is basically a step up with a record of 7-1-1(5) and he just fought Sammy Gonzalez to a draw so it should be a competitive fight and I’m excited to be fighting as a co-feature on ESPN with a good opponent. I finally get a chance to box someone with a good record and show everyone what I can do against a good opponent.
Anson Wainwright – You only had three fights in 2010, what prevented you from being more active?
Demetrius Andrade – I had a couple other fights lined up but each time the opponent pulled out and that’s the only reason I didn’t fight more often. On one of my bouts I was even getting wrapped to go out to fight and they came into my dressing room and said that my opponent tested positive for a banned substance and that I wouldn’t be fighting. So I traveled across the country for nothing. Hopefully this year I will be more active and we’ve already got some fights lined up for the first half of the year, including a couple of HBO under-cards so hopefully this year will be different.
Anson Wainwright – You are fighting 8 rounders now and have been a pro for just over 2 years what is your assessment on your development since you have gone professional?
Demetrius Andrade – Well, I’m ok with everything so far but I wish I got to fight more often but hopefully we can change that this year. I’m ready to step it up and show everyone that I’m going to be everything that everyone expected me to be. I know that everyone has wanted me to fight better competition and I can’t wait to do that too. I’m just trying to listen to my promoters and the rest of the team and this year they are finally going to give me a chance to step it up so I can’t wait for the opportunity. I’ve been getting a lot of criticism for not taking bigger fights but really I’m fighting everyone they ask me to fight. This Year WILL be different
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Is there anyone behind the scene’s who helps you also. What gym do you regularly train at?
Demetrius Andrade – Ed Farris is my new manager since last fall, we’ve been good friends for years and I know he’s honest and will look out for me. My dad is still my head trainer and with both my dad and Ed, I feel like I’ve got the right people around me to succeed. My promoters are Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions and Joe Deguardia of STAR Boxing and I’ve been with them since starting out my pro career. I also have an assistant trainer Mike Veloz who helps me out a lot in the gym everyday. I train at the 401 Gym in Providence, RI and right now I’m traveling a lot for sparring.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how life was for you growing up in Province, Rhode Island and how that path took you into Boxing?
Demetrius Andrade – I lived in a good neighborhood and I was always close to my family so I wasn’t into boxing because I was on the streets and had nothing else to do. My dad brought me into the gym when I was 6 years old and I’ve wanted to box ever since. He’s the person that got me into boxing and he’s the one that got me to the top in the amateurs. I know that I’ll never forget where I came or my heritage and everyone that helped get me here.
Anson Wainwright – You were very successful in the amateur ranks winning gold at the 2007 World Championships, can you tell us about this? Also could you tell us about your Olympic experience & what National tournaments you won? What was your final record?
Demetrius Andrade – My final record was 0-0-0! Na, I had like 300 amateur bouts and I don’t even know what my record is! I started winning the National tournaments in 2006 when I won the USA Nationals and then I won the National Golden Gloves the same year. Then I started to travel to other countries and I won a lot of matches and then fought in the Pan Am Games and I won a silver medal. I fought the Brazilian champion in Brazil and you know how that goes J. Then in 2007, I won the USA Nationals and the National Golden gloves again and then I qualified for the Olympic team. The Olympics was a great experience and I won my first 3 fights and then lost a controversial decision going into the medal rounds. I’ll always be glad I did it but I wished it ended different. It would have been nice to have my dad in my corner with me because I felt like the whole world was against me and my dad has always been in my corner but he wasn’t allowed to be. Afterwards, I just remember thinking that the same thing happened to Roy Jones when he got robbed by the Korean boxer and everything worked out ok for him, so hopefully I’ll be as lucky as he was in the pro’s.
Anson Wainwright – You haven’t perhaps come along as quickly as some in Boxing thought you might of, what are your thoughts on that? What are your plans for 2011?
Demetrius Andrade – We are going to have a really big year in 2011. We have this ESPN fight lined up and then I have two HBO under-card fights scheduled in February and March so we’re starting out the new year BIG. Hopefully be the end of the year I’ll be in the mix with some of the top fighters and then in 2012 Look out!
Anson Wainwright – What do you enjoy doing with your time when your not Boxing? What are your hobbies and Interests?
Demetrius Andrade – I spend every minute I can with my girls. I have a great girlfriend, Elanise and two beautiful daughters Autumn and Summer and I’m just happy to enjoy the time with them. I’m just happy to stay home and be with them as much as I can.
Anson Wainwright – You have had three fights so far in Rhode Island are you and your team looking to develop a good home base like Fernando Guerrero in Salisbury & Andre Ward in Oakland for instance?
Demetrius Andrade – I love fighting at home and it’s nice to be able to have your family and friends around you so hopefully I can keep fighting at home a few times a year but I guess that’s up to my promoters. I’ll just fight wherever they tell me too but there’s nothing like fighting at home!
Anson Wainwright – Where did your Nickname Boo Boo come from?
Demetrius Andrade – I kept giving everyone Booboo’s every time I boxed them so you know J… No, really I was at the playground when I was little and I got hurt and ran home and told my daddy I got a booboo and I got stuck with the name ever since.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero growing up & who do you enjoy watching today?
Demetrius Andrade – Roy Jones was my favorite because he was so fast and dominated everyone for so long. I don’t really have a favorite fighter that I watch today but I know who I’m going to be watching tomorrowJ!
Anson Wainwright – What do you hope to achieve from Boxing?
Demetrius Andrade – I want to be the best of the best. You only live once and I want to make my mark in this sport and hopefully I’ll be mentioned with all the great names. I can’t wait to raise that belt and know that everyone who believed in me will get to see it! Also, I can’t wait to make enough money to buy my mom a nice house because she really deserves it for everything she’s done for me and my brothers.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Boxing world?
Demetrius Andrade – Believe
Thanks for your time Boo Boo!
Thank you for the opportunity, I really appreciate it!
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Thursday Thoughts -Klitschko-Haye talks reached am impass when Wladimir announced he’s rescheduled his fight with Dereck Chisora on 30 April in Germany…Big shame that the Shumenov-Braehmer Light Heavyweight unification has been cancelled due to Braehmer going down with acute gastrointestinal, which caused severe headaches and abdominal pains. I hope Braehmer recovers well and that they can reschedule this interesting fight…Kelly Pavlik has been released from rehab, no word on how he’s doing. Hopefully “The Ghost” can deal with those demons and comeback and do what he does best.
If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk
