By Charles Brun: Demetrius Andrade is calling out Billy Joe Saunders for a fight this year, and he’s daring him to make it happen. The unbeaten Andrade (29-0, 18 KOs) called WBO super middleweight champion Saunders (29-0, 14 KOs) a “clown,” and he says he’s “ready to make it happen.
WBO middleweight champion Andrade, 32, took to social media this week to respond to Saunders’ claim that he’s “running” and doesn’t want to fight. Andrade says he wants the fight with the southpaw Saunders, who doesn’t have an opponent for the fall.
Saunders says he wants to fight in November or December, but his dreams of facing Canelo Alvarez appear to have gone up in smoke. Canelo is busy with his lawsuit against DAZN, Golden Boy Promotions, and Oscar De La Hoya, and he probably won’t fight again until next year.
Hearn wants to make Saunders vs. Andrade
Billy Joe’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, would love to set up a fight between him and Andrade, but he needs some cooperation. Saunders has got to want that fight. He already blew it when he was supposed to fight Demetrius in 2018 when he tested positive for the banned substance oxilofrine.
Andrade still wanted to fight him, but it never came about. Saunders subsequently vacated his WBO 160-lb strap, which was promptly snatched up by Andrade after defeating Walter Kautondokwa by a 12 round unanimous decision in October 2018.
“Billy Joe, you’re a clown,” said Andrade on Twitter in responding to Saunders. “You trying to say I’m running. You call me on my name, but we already know what I do. If you really want to make this fight happen, let’s make this fight happen.
“You’re a clown, kid. It’s me again. I’m ready to fight whenever. Let’s make it happen. No steroids, no nasal sprays excuses. Clean, natural, and then we can make it happen whenever.”
If the interest were there on Saunders’ part to fae the talented 2012 U.S Olympian Andrade, he would have fought him ages ago. This situation with Andrade chasing Saunders year after year with no luck is reminiscent of how Kell Brook has tried for ages to get Amir Khan to face him.
Brook has tried for over a decade to get the Khan fight, and it still hasn’t happened. Andrade has been banging his head against the wall with his frustration at being unable to lure Saunders into taking the fight with him. Demetrius can’t drag Saunders kicking and screaming into the ring if he doesn’t want the war.
Eddie practically begging Saunders
“Hello, Eddie. He [Demetrius] wants me to smash him up. Can you make it or what?” said Saunders on social media talking to his promoter Hearn on a fight with Andrade. “Demetrius Andrade against Billy Joe Saunders? Yes, please,” said Hearn in responding to Saunders when asked if he can make the Andrade match.
“You just told me, ‘Don’t stop him,'” said Saunders. “You told me, ‘Don’t stop him. Let it go the distance.” I told you that I think you beat Andrade easily. I also told Andrade that he beats you easily,” said Hearn.
Instead of Saunders stepping up to accept Andrade’s challenge in the last four years, we’ve seen Billy Joe fighting these guys:
- Marcelo Esteban Cocenres
- David Lemieux
- Shefat Isufi
- Willie Monroe
- Artur Akavov
In looking at that group of mediocre fighters, it’s telling about the mindset for Saunders. For Billy Joe to have consumed the last four years of his career fighting just those guys, it means you a lot about his self-belief.
If Saunders believed in his ability, he wouldn’t have wasted the last FOUR years of his career fighting that level of opposition. Also, he would have stepped up to the plate and fought Andrade a long time ago if he had the confidence.
“Andrade, you’re just a little p***** that keeps running,” said Saunders on social media. “So for the fighters at 168, let’s rock and roll in November or December.”
Does Saunders want to face Demetrius?
It seems pretty evident that the one that doesn’t want the fight and is doing the running is Saunders, not Andrade. But look at it this way; it’s worked out well for Saunders.
By Billy Joe not facing Andrade or any of the other talented fighters at 160 or 168, he’s stayed unbeaten. If Saunders had fought someone with any ability, he likely would have been beaten years ago, and no one would be talking about him now.
If you’re Saunders, why would you elect to face Shefat Isufi and Marcelo Esteban Coceres in your last two fights if you had any interest in facing Andrade? Why take those fights against those unknowns when you’ve got Andrade calling you out night and day?
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