World champ Andrade ‘looking forward’ to defending against Luke Keeler

Demetrius Andrade [28(17)-0] claims he is looking forward to facing Luke Keeler [17(5)-2(1)-1] as talks with regard to their possible world title fight gathers pace.

Keeler has been linked with ‘Boo Boo’ since his impressive victory over Luis Arias at the Falls Park in August.

A St Patrick’s weekend clash was first muted, with Keeler confirming his management had advanced talks with regard to making that happen.

However, the Ballyfermot middleweight has become increasingly hopeful he can fight for the world title as early as this December.

WBO world middleweight champion Andrade is expected to be out again in that month and Matchroom are looking for a replacement opponent as WBO #1 Steven Butler has has elected to go the WBA route – and will fight their ‘regular’ champion Ryota Murata, a fighter that Jason Quigley previously agreed to face, in Japan instead.

That leaves ‘Boo Boo’ with an opponent vacancy and Keeler has informed Irish-boxing.com he is more than willing to fill the Butler sized hole.

Alantez Fox would look to be in pole position due to his WBO #2 status, but the two-weight world champion already holds a win over 27-year-old ‘SlyAza’ meaning Matchroom and Andrade himself are keen to make the Keeler fight.

The 32-year-old, who spent the weekend supporting the likes of Pierce O’Leary, Sam Carroll, Senan Kelly and Tommy McGlynn as they fought in Belfast, is keen not to let the chance slip him by and has been pushing for a December dust up.

It’s seems Andrade is only to willing, tweeting today that he is ‘looking forward’ to a match up.

I will be looking forward to taking your belt back to Ireland and whether the fight is New York or Boston the Irish American support will make you feel like the away fighter @MTKGlobal @EddieHearn @PeteTaylor01 🍀🇮🇪👊🏼 https://t.co/9pjZ3LUmJU

— Coolhand Luke (@luke_keeler) October 13, 2019

The American has been dodged more than dodged more than avoided by the likes of fellow middleweight title holders Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez, proving a risk not worth the reward.

Jermall Charlo puts the WBC title on the line against Dennis Hogan in December and is PBC aligned, so that isn’t an option. As a result he has been content to take on any highly ranked opponent as he builds his name and his record.

“At the end of the day I’m fighting, I’m world champion, I’m making money, I’m in the ring one, two, thee, four times in the last 12 months or something like that — I’m good,” he told Badlefthook recently.

“The more I can keep building my brand, keep building myself, Demetrius Andrade — to let the people know what they been missing on — that’s going to lead into fighting Canelo, GGG, because the window’s [closing].”

“I understand the business, I understand what’s going on so I’m gonna create my own legacy. I’m gonna worry about Demetrius Andrade, this guy right here, who I have control over. I don’t have control over Canelo, GGG, or anything else like that. So I’m gonna focus on me, do what I need to do, and let the whole world know that you need to keep saying ‘Demetrius Andrade,’ and I’m gonna put on the performance I need to put on to show the difference between my skill level versus their skill level.”