Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade: Boxing, Belts, and Layoffs

Exclusive Interview by Dave “Mythical” Siderski

“I can get out of any situation I may find myself in and weather the storm……I can never stop getting stronger………I need to keep learning fight by fight.” – Demetrius Andrade

Demetrius Andrade is one of a number of exciting young lions currently prowling the territory at 147 and 154 lbs. and seeking to fill the void left by the recently retired Floyd Mayweather JR. Andrade, undefeated at 22-0, 15 KO’s, has followed up a spectacular amateur career with an excellent start as a professional, including a WBO JR. Middleweight title winning effort over Vanes Martirosyan. Forced to take a 16 month layoff, Demetrius is now back in the ring and today shares his thoughts about his career and future plans with RSR.

DS: You were introduced to boxing at a very early age, starting your career at the age of six. How did you come to be involved in the sport?

My father. He was training my older brother and he brought me to the gym when I was six. It was fun, like a playground for me, and it became my routine for me.

DS: Were there any fighters you particularly admired growing up?

Roy Jones, JR. I looked up to him, he was my role model in boxing. I liked Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler a lot, too,”

DS: You’ve said in the past that your biggest influence was your father. Can you elaborate on that for our readers?

My father took on three kids. The majority of men would have left them with their mother. The lady we call mother is the woman with my father we’ve seen all of our lives. I didn’t know my real mother until I was in elementary school. My father got us in sports, whether it was football, basketball, boxing or whatever. He was always there for us and he coached us most of the time.

DS: Of the many accomplishments you had in your amateur career, which one was the most gratifying for you and why?

Winning a gold medal at the 2008 World Championships in Chicago. It had the best boxers in the world and was almost the equal of the Olympics. I did make it to The Olympics and that was also gratifying.

DS: What are your memories of defeating Keith Thurman at the Olympic Trials?

My memory is thinking that I was going to beat his ass in the Olympic Trials and I did, not just once, but twice in the Olympic Trials. We must have fought five times in the amateurs.

DS: What were your experiences like at the 2008 Beijing Olympics? What are your recollections of your fight with Kim Jung-joo?

It was a great experience. I met all of the top athletes in the world. I didn’t lose, I clearly got robbed, and nobody has ever heard of him again.

DS: What were the challenges for you in transitioning from the amateur to the professional ranks?

Only a little in preparation. I had to watch out for more head shots, rabbit punches. But it was more about me coming into my own as a man to be the best. In the amateurs, I was just a boxer and let things come to me. Now, I constantly work on my power and speed to come together. I’m patient, knowing how and when to press the action. As a professional boxer, I try to learn something every day about myself.

DS: What are your recollections of your professional debut against Patrick Cape in October 2008?

I got him out of there with some beautiful body shots. I think it was in Washington.”

DS: Of your opponents early in your career, which one was the toughest and why?

My fight with (Chris) Chatman. I had a falling out with my father and it could have been a lot easier

DS: You won the WBO JR Middleweight title with a decision over Vanes Martirosyan. Please tell our readers about that fight and your feelings about winning your first professional world championship?

It felt good to accomplish something I would do during my professional career. I knew I was the best in my division, unfortunately, I didn’t get the credit I deserve for beating Martirosyan, who was unbeaten and also an Olympian.

DS: After defeating Brian Rose in your first title defense, you didn’t fight for more than one year. How frustrating was the layoff for you?

It was frustrating but I made the most of my time to build my mind, body and soul. I didn’t sit around, I still worked hard in the gym. I really wanted to get back in the ring, At the end of the day, I think I got the most out of that time away as I could.

DS: You returned a couple of weeks ago, knocking out Dario Fabian Pucheta in the second round. How did it feel to be back in the ring?

It felt good. It wasn’t anything new; I’d been there before. I knew and did what I had to in order to get the job done. I took my time, throwing some set-up shots, and then I hurt him with my first real shot that put him down. I thought it was over but he had to be good and tough to be 20-2. He got up and then I put him down twice in the next round to win.

DS: What do you feel are your greatest strengths as a fighter? Is there any one area that you’d like to improve upon?

My athletic ability. I can get out of any situation I may find myself in and weather the storm. I use my jab for everything. I need to improve everything. I can never stop getting stronger. I know age catches up with everybody but I’m not there yet. I need to keep learning fight by fight.

DS: What are your current and future plans? Is there anyone in particular that you’d most like to fight?

“I’d like to fight Canelo, Cotto…..the Charlo brothers. They’re all on my radar but I have to see what can realistically happen. I’d like to fight Delvin Rodriguez next at Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods. It’s a good New England fight. He’s from Connecticut, I’m from Rhode Island, and we both have a lot of fans in that area. He’s coming off a 12-round loss by decision (to Erislandy Lara. He (Rodriguez) was knocked by Cotto in three rounds. People compare fighters by common opponents. They could judge how I’d do against Cotto off my fight with Rodriguez. He still has a lot of credibility left.

DS: Have you given any thought to what you’d like to do after your boxing career is over?

I don’t want to sit around getting fat (laughing). I don’t have plans right now but I own some property and a small business. I would rather invest than spend money on material things. We’ll see what happens.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]