While former U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade might have the look of a dangerous pro, the jury is still out on whether he'll be challenging for a world or regional title in a year like some of his Olympic brethren.
Midway through Demetrius Andrade’s tussle with .500 journeyman Geoffrey Spruiell during the opening bout of the last Friday Night Fights did it become apparent that Andrade’s future was not so apparent. Prior to that night, the decorated amateur and U.S. Olympian’s biggest flaw was his lack of competition, with ten pro fights against very limited opposition. Most boxing fans and commentators were in agreement that Andrade should be pushed along a bit faster by his team of David Keefe and father Paul, a la previous Olympians Oscar De La Hoya or Floyd Mayweather. Stardom was in this boy’s future, so let’s get the move on, right?
As a matter of fact, FNF commentator Teddy Atlas reiterated that fact numerous times during the start of the bout. Play-by-play man Joe Tessitore threw in names like Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez as examples of fighters who became ready for world titles quickly by being matched tougher at the start of their careers. Atlas even said that “Boo Boo” should be getting rid of the limited Spruiell within two rounds. The overlying tone was that Andrade’s camp was babying their fighter too much.
The problem with statements like those is that the camp tends to know their fighter best. Perhaps co-promoters Joe DeGuardia and Artie Pelullo knew something the rest of us didn’t, because by the time the gutsy Spruiell reached the fourth, fifth, and finally the sixth rounds, just about everyone was eating heaping plates of crow. Yes, Andrade won the fight, but didn’t look overly impressive in doing so, casting doubts the size of Nicolay Valuev as to whether he was at all ready for a meaningful fight. Sure, the Providence, RI, prospect won every round handily, but in this era of prospects being matched softer and softer, dominating wipeouts are how early careers are measured. Gamboa, for example, may not have shown great defense early, but he sure impressively knocked out the chumps he was facing, even if they couldn’t beat anybody’s grandmother.
Most revealing may have been the back-and-forth between Andrade and his father in between the fifth and sixth round. Andrade actually said to his dad, “tell me I’m the best”, as if he wasn’t sure himself; the senior Andrade responded by confirming that he was the best. Now, could you imagine Teddy Atlas ever saying that to one of his fighters? There’s a better chance of Floyd Mayweather getting a Christmas card from Manny Pacquiao. Perhaps this was just banter between father and son that they routinely make during training, but it sure smacked of a father telling his son what he wanted to hear. And they were probably the only people in the building that believed it.
Now, it might not be fair, but when you consider the aforementioned De La Hoya and Mayweather winning world titles in their 12th and 16th fights, respectively, Andrade looks a long way off that pace. Comparing him in any respect to either of those two Hall of Famers is probably not fair, either. But to whom much is given, much is expected. Prime spots on FNF or Shobox are given out for a reason, and that’s because those fighters are eventually supposed to be main-event attractions, not to mention making man-event money for the networks.
Whether Andrade ever becomes that remains to be seen. He could be the next De La Hoya, but judging from Friday Night’s performance, he also could be the next Francisco Bojado, flaming out before reach the big time. Only time will tell that for sure, so to expect Andrade’s career path to mirror those of his successful forbearers is always a foolish gamble. His boxing future will reveal itself as the months go on; however, whether any of us will be interested in watching it is the larger question. If those struggles continue, the networks may not be so interested in airing it, either.
Then Demetrius Andrade will really need someone to tell him he’s the best.
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