‘Boo Boo’ is Back: Andrade Blasts Ataide in FirstRound at Championship Jackpot 2026
| UNCASVILLE, CT – After 20 months away from the ring, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (33-1, 20 KOs) needed just 129 seconds to remind the boxing world what it had been missing. The three-time, two-division world champion made an emphatic return on Friday night at Mohegan Sun Arena, knocking out Brazil’s Douglas Ataide (20-6-1, 11 KOs) at 2:09 of the opening round in the main event of CES Boxing’s Championship Jackpot 2026, streamed live worldwide on DAZN. There was no feeling-out process and little evidence of ring rust from the 38-year-old Providence, RI, southpaw, who immediately backed Ataide up with sharp jabs to the midsection. Then, just asAtaide anticipated a punch to the body, Andrade landed a left hand to the head followed by a tremendous right hook to the temple that short-circuited the Brazilian and sent him crashing to the canvas. There was no need for a count from referee Ricky Gonzalez, as Ataide lay flat on his back with his arms flailing in the air. The thudding knockout made Andrade’s return to New England for the first time in five years an emphatic one. With the win out of the way, the 2008 U.S. Olympian is set on pursuing a fourth world title in a third weight class against the likes of Jaime Munguia, Christian Mbili, and Hamzah Sheeraz. “I’m looking to fight whoever claims that they’re the best at 168,” said Andrade immediately after the bout. “I’m not playing around. We’ll be back in the gym next week and we can get it on in November.” “To be away for two and a half years and put on that kind of performance is unbelievable,” said CES Boxing Founder Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. “Demetrius is ready to become a four-time world champion in three-divisions, so the 168-pound champions better be ready.” Whether it’s a world title fight against the aforementioned fighters or unfinished business against Caleb Plant, Jermall Charlo, or Canelo Alvarez, Friday’s devastating knockout made one thing clear: ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade has plenty of gas left in the tank. While Andrade returned from an extensive layoff, ‘King’ Kevin Walsh (21-0, 11 KOs) has been one of the most active boxers in the world, racking up 21 wins in his five-year pro career. In March, Walsh traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland, and upset former Olympian and world title challenger Michael Conlan to win the WBC International Featherweight Championship and announce his arrival on the world stage. Entering the night ranked 14 in the world with the World Boxing Council (WBC) and closing in on a world title opportunity, Walsh took a dangerous stay busy fight against hard-hitting Dominican Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 KOs). The gamble almost backfired in round one, as Arias caught Walsh with a huge right hand a minute into the fight. Arias went on an all-out assault, backing the Brockton native into the ropes to land a head-snapping right hand that had Walsh briefly holding on to compose himself. When referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. separated them, Walsh flicked a few jabs in an attempt to create distance and clear his head, but Arias kept coming forward. Then, as he’s done several times in the past, Walsh turned the tables, launching a monstruous counter right hand that put Arias on unsteady legs. A right uppercut and a series of right hands followed, dropping Arias by the neutral corner. The Dominican bravely beat the count but was greeted by another devastating right hand that put him back on the canvas. Arias and rose to his feet, but Arthur Mercante Jr. had seen enough, halting the at 2:14 of the opening stanza. It was another statement victory for one of New England’s hottest fighters, who wasted no time in calling out WBC Featherweight World Champion Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington. “You know who I want – you’re right down the street in New York. ‘Shu Shu’, where you at? I’ve been calling you out. I’m taking everybody out around my way, and I’ve been calling you out. Let’s go baby. It’s my time.” “This young fighter is ready for anyone,” added promoter Jimmy Burchfield, Sr. “He wiped out every opponent that I have given him, and he wants to fight for a world title. We’ll fight any champion out there.” Stamford based Polish prospect Slawomir “Heavy Hitter” Bohdziewicz (8-1, 7 KOs) made a resounding return to the win column, stopping Russ Kimber (3-5, 1 KO) in the second round of their cruiserweight contest. Bohdziewicz immediately went on the offensive, trapping the Peabody native along the ropes to land blistering punches in round one. Kimber was unable to create space in round two, as Bohdziewicz blasted him to the head and body, dropping him twice and causing referee Ricky Gonzalez to waive off the fight at 2:12 of the round. With the win, Bohdziewicz set his career back on track after an upset loss to Jose Carlos Rivera in April at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Stamford, CT middleweight prospect Douglas “El Uno” Marroquin passed the toughest test of his young career, improving to 11-0 (6 KOs) with a hard-earned unanimous decision over fellow unbeaten Daine “Wavy” Smikle (4-1, 1 KO) of New Haven, CT. It was a battle of styles as the taller, rangier Smikle looked to fight at a distance while the shorter, stocky Marroquin worked his combinations on the inside. A late surge by the 28-year-old Marroquin turned the fight in his favor, as all three judges scored the bout 58-56 for the charismatic middleweight. Veteran Luis Porozo (20-15, 10 KOs) used his experience and guile to hand previously unbeaten Gianni “The Ghost” Liguori (5-1-1, 4 KOs) the first loss of his professional career. The 36-year-old Ecuadorian earned a unanimous six-round decision over the 21-year-old Liguori in a competitive junior welterweight bout. All three judges scored the bout 58-56. Super bantamweight prospect Joseph “J-Elite” Chisholm (8-1, 7 KOs) continued his rise with an explosive second-round stoppage of St. Louis native Rashad Hicks (2-9-1, 1 KO). The 20-year-old from Stratford, CT, dropped the taller Hicks with two uppercuts in the opening round and put him on the canvas again in the second before the fight was stopped at 47 seconds of the round. Hicks was in training for a fight on July 31 before being added to the card as a late substitution for Joshua Alvarado, who dropped out of the bout on fight week. Unbeaten prospects collided in the first fight of the night, as Waterbury southpaw Kevante “The Key” Wineglass (5-0, 3 KOs) outworked Canadian Josh “The Boss” Melvin (3-1-1, 2 KOs) by majority decision in a competitive four-round junior welterweight bout. Scores were 40-36 (2x) and 38-38. At the top of the card, Andrade returned with a reminder. “Boo Boo” is back — and after 20 months away, it took him barely two minutes to announce it.For additional updates and event information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.INFORMATION ABOUT CES BOXINGCES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast. Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.”, “Mayweather vs. Gotti III” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”. ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA |