By Mark Eisner: WBO middleweight champion Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade (30-0, 18 KOs) defeated his WBO mandatory Liam Williams (23-3-1, 18 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision in a tougher than expected fight on Saturday night on DAZN at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The scores were 116-111, 118-109, 118-109.
“Liam Williams is a hell of a fighter, tough and strong,” said Andrade. “I already knew he was tough. Him getting back up showing me he wanted more, showed me he was that. He’s a dog. He’s tough. He came here to win. I got hit with some hard shots too. You get a dog fight. For me it was great,” said Andrade.
“I’m the champion, I’m undefeated. There’s a whole lot of money on the table. I’m willing to risk it all. This was a nice stepping stone for me to get to the next level. Let’s get it on.
“Demetrius is a very good fighter. He’s better than I thought,” said Williams “I hurt him a couple of times I feel, but I couldn’t capitalize on it. 100%, I know I’m tough. I believe I’m going to stay world level. I believe Demetrius is the best of the champions besides Canelo.”
“I thought it was a great fight,” said Eddie Hearn. “He did his job, it’s not his job to convince other champions to fight him. Champions should be fighting champions.
Demetrius will go fight on Fox. Demetrius Andrade vs. Jermall Charlo is a great fight. Gennadiy Golovkin is a great champion. Golovkin is planning a fight against Murata on December 31st. Champions should be fighting champions. If your Charlo or Golovkin, you should fight Andrade.”
- In an impressive performance, IBO super-middleweight champion Carlos Gongora (20-0, 15 KOs) stopped challenger Christopher Pearson (17-3, 12 KOs) in the eighth round after dropping him with a right hook on his damaged right eye. Pearson bravely got back to his feet but thought otherwise went back to a knee and was counted out. Pearson’s right eye was almost swollen shut, and he was in too much pain after getting hit with a hook from the hard-hitting Congora. The time of the stoppage was at 2:15 of round eight. Congora is the real deal and deserves to be in the mix to take on Canelo Alvarez in the division.
- Jorge David Castaneda MD 8 Otha Jones III
- Movladdin Biyarslanov MD 8 Israel Mercado
- Aron Aponte UD 4 Javier Martinez
- Alexis Espino UD 6 Ty McLeod. Judges’ scores: 59-55, 59-55, 60-54
- Andrey Fedosov KO 1 Mahammadrasul Majidov. The time of the stoppage: 1:24
- Arthur Biyarslanov MD 8 Israel Mercado – scores: 76-76, 77-75, 78-74
Preview:
Andrade not sure how good Liam Williams is
“We’re here to fight, and put on a show. I hope he brings his bet because I’m going to be bringing mine,” said Andrade to Boxing social on his fight with Williams.
“I’m not going to really know until I step into the ring with him as far as his ability and skills, and people got him down as a tough opponent, and that’s good.
“That’s good that people are saying that Demetrius is fighting a tough guy. I’m all up for it. I look good regardless in and out of the ring.
It’s about the other elite guys wanting to make the fights happen, and not me needing to get knockouts and whatever because every time I step in the ring, I look good and perform well.
I do my job well. I get the ‘W’ and that’s all that matters. Do the rest of the division want to unify or not?” said Andrade.
We know from watching Liam Williams’ recent fights is that he’s got one-punch power with either hand, and he’s a devastatingly strong person.
Liam, 28, is like a smaller version of Artur Beterbiev, a guy that has freakishly excellent power.
Andrade cannot afford to let Williams hit tonight because he could end it the contest at a moment’s notice if he lands something clean.
Demetrius wants Canelo and GGG
Liam Williams is an opponent you don’t want, but I keep telling people,” said Demetrius. “To entice these other fighters like GGG and Jermall Charlo, it’s all about the money.
“But more money on the line and we’re going to get the fight. That’s what they’re looking for, and of course, I’m looking forward to that as well.
“Put the money up so we can make these fights happen so there are no more excuses. If you tell Charlo, ‘We’ll give you $10 million, $15 million,’ and the whole world wants to see that fight.
“If it’s Canelo or vice versa or whatever the situation if the money is good enough for the fighter, we’re going to make the fight happen.
“There’s enough money out there. Put it where fights matter the most, and that’s me vs. these guys or them guys vs. each other. I’m in the mix regardless.
“At this point, GGG is the next fight,” said Andrade. “I think Liam Williams is a lot tougher than Szeremeta.
“GGG is doing what GGG does, but people want to see that fight happen. Put the money up and let’s make that fight happen,” said Andrade.
Demetrius Andrade will be putting his WBO middleweight belt on the line tonight against mandatory Liam Williams in a fight that should be exciting to watch live on DAZN in Hollywood, Florida. The Andrade-Williams fight card beings at 3 pm ET.
Andrade (29-0, 18 KOs) will be looking to pick up his 30th career victory and 19th knockout against the blue-collar fighter Williams (23-2-1, 18 KOs) in 12 round fight at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, Florida.
Williams, 28, has promised to smash Andrade’s face and take his WBO belt back to England, where he has dreams of facing the other top fighters.