(Photo credit: Ed Mulholland/HBO) By Daniel Hughes: Brian Rose (27-1-1, 7 KO’s) has a really tough ask ahead of him to claim the WBO light-middleweight title tonight from Demetrius Andrade (20-0, 13 KO’s) at the Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York. Boxing is about levels and this is a real step up away from home for the Blackpool fighter from the UK.
Andrade is the decorated amateur, who won the world amateur championships in 2007 at welterweight. Andrade’s career as a pro has proved to be a smooth ride generally baring the knockdown he suffered in the 1st round against Vanes Martirosyan in his last fight.
Andrade is comfortable with being able to fight at a slower pace that suits his style. The southpaw style he employs will be hard for Rose to figure out a plan to offset, his right hook and especially the straight left will be the main tactic he will look to utilize tonight. The only question I have with regard Andrade is his work rate. In some rounds he looks to coast he is big at the weight and certainly looks to struggle to shift those last few pounds.
The fight fans stateside will have seen little or nothing of Rose. The main strength he brings is his work rate. As his record suggests, he is not a heavy handed puncher. He has a really good jab but his style orthodox. Against the taller southpaw Andrade, the jab is Rose’s best weapon. He will need to work out the distance early to have any chance of landing it to any effect.
If Rose cannot establish his best weapon early I cannot see him having the power to keep Andrade off him. The only probable way he can give Andrade problems is to frustrate the champion with getting a tempo set early that Andrade finds uncomfortable. To work the champion for the full three minutes of every round, Rose has always shown good conditioning in this department. Rose certainly has heart. UK fight fans will know he will need far more than that tonight. Opportunities like this rarely come again unless you show you deserve to be at this level.
Rose has the opportunity of a lifetime tonight. Upsets do happen in boxing but I see a hard night ahead for Rose. The logical view being Andrade will have too much class and quality. Rose, whatever happens, needs to have no regrets. Andrade will be looking to put on a show the pressure is on him because if he can’t impress those bigger fights and paydays will remain a pipedream. Rose will be hoping he has been taken lightly by the champion sometimes that can close the gap on what happens on the night, especially if you expect an easy night.
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