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US
amateur boxing star
Demetrius Andrade in own class
PROVIDENCE (May 23, 2007) - The ultimate compliment in boxing is for
opponents to try just about anything to take a star such as Demetrius
"Boo Boo" Andrade out of his game. Andrade, 19, has dominated the
152-pound weight class in the United States the past two years to the
point now that his foes have taken extreme measures, to say the least,
against him in the ring.
"All of my opponents have been trying to man-handle me," Andrade
explained. "They've used elbows, even thrown me, to try and take me out
of my game. But I have a good corner and my coaches - David Keefe and my
father (Paul) - talk to me about keeping my patience and not letting all
of that stuff get to me."
Andrade, the No. 1 rated welterweight in the U.S., is the two-time U.S.
National Championships and National Golden Gloves champion having
recently beaten Charles Hatley in the gold-medal match of The Gloves.
The 6-0 southpaw Andrade is a tremendous defensive boxer who uses his
long reach to his advantage, peppering opponents with a variety of
scoring punches from seeming all angles.
"Last year was easier for me in the Golden Gloves Tournament because I
was able to stay in the pocket and box," Demetrius noted. "This year my
opponents were running around and throwing elbows. At times it was more
like the UFC."
Up next for "Boo Boo" is the US National Championships, June 1-9, in
Colorado Springs, where he'll go for his third straight gold in this
prestigious tournament. Andrade is seeded into the quarterfinals and one
win automatically qualifies him for the US Box-Offs to determine the
roster for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics in China. Andrade has already
beaten his toughest competition in the U.S. for a berth on Team USA at
152 pounds having beaten Hatley and Keith Thurman twice and Boyd Melson
once.
Cox Sports Network will air Andrade's semifinal match in the National
Golden Gloves Tournament against Javonn Barnes on June 1 (7 PM) and June
9 (9:30 PM), as well as his championship bout versus Hatley on June 22
(7 PM) and June 30 (7:30 PM).
"Some things happen overseas that make it difficult for Americans to win
gold medals," Andrade spoke about fighting in the Pan-Am Games. "We'll
be fighting in South America and they score high for their own. I'll
beat some of the same guys I'll probably face in the Olympics, but I
won't show them it all at the Pan-Am Games. They'll see it all at the
Olympics. I've been thinking about the Olympics since I was 10. It's
always been my goal. I'm starting to feel some of the pressure now, but
I just focus on staying in top shape and listening to my coaches."
Andrade's principal rival, Cuban Erislandi Lara, beat Demetrious in
their only meeting, 9-4. Russians Ruslan Khairov and Andrey Balanov are
to other major threats in the world's 152-pound division.
Andrade, who boxes out of 401 Gym in Cranston, decided to concentrate on
his boxing career rather than attend college at this stage of his young
life. His Olympic dream and a potentially lucrative pro career have only
temporarily derailed his educational plans. He's already in a class of
his own. |
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