Billy Joe Saunders will defend the WBO Middleweight title against former two-time junior middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade. the bout was agreed to after the two sides cancelled a pursed bid scheduled for Wednesday, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Andrade promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN that the fight “looks like” it will take place Oct. 20 and that he plans to switch the card he has planned that night in Los Angeles to the East Coast, where Andrade is from.
“I have been informed that Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren have come to an agreement for Saunders versus Andrade. Therefore, there is no need for the bid process,” WBO President Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel said.
“Hopefully, we can put the fight in my hometown [of Providence, Rhode Island],” Andrade told ESPN. “Money talks. When you have the financing behind you, you can make deals. The deal got done. This is the type of team I needed in my career. Better now than never. I put myself in a great position. Now it’s my time to do what I’ve been wanting to do.”
“Delighted to agree terms for ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade to challenge Billy Joe Saunders for the WBO world title,” Hearn wrote on social media.
Saunders said he’s ready for Andrade, tweeting to Hearn, “Your man is getting spanked.”
Said Andrade, “He’s world champion, but my name ain’t David Lemieux. I believe I can do anything he can do better. My dog will be unleashed when it’s time to get in the ring. And I can smack talk, too. I can dish it out and I can take it. I can talk the talk and walk the walk.”
