By Dan Ambrose: Canelo Alvarez rudely booted WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade from his post-fight news conference after he had the temerity to challenge him for a fight following his eighth-round stoppage win over WBO 168-lb champion Billy Joe Saunders at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
One got the sense that Andrade had something in store for Canelo even before the post-fight press conference.
Demetrius angry at being avoided
When the DAZN camera crew showed Andrade in the audience, he was wearing a t-shirt with the message, ‘Canelo and Billy Joe are scared to fight Boo Boo Andrade
Demetrius has been trying to get a fight against Canelo Alvarez for years, but he’s been ignored by the Mexican star.
Some fans believe that the 2008 U.S Olympian Andrade’s height, reach, power, and defensive ability have scared off Canelo, Gennadiy Golovkin, and Jermall Charlo from fighting him.
While Canelo was quick to give Andrade the royal boot at the press conference, there’s no mistaking the reality that he would have been a far opponent last Saturday night Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs), who looked unimpressive..’
Canelo repeatedly hurled expletives at the unbeaten Andrade (30-0, 18 KOs), saying, “Get the f*** out of here. You have fought nobody.” When Andrade didn’t leave quick enough, Canelo threatened to fight him there on the spot.
It’s irrelevant that Andrade hasn’t fought the big names, as he’s tried, but they’ve wanted no part of fighting him. But in looking at how pedestrian Billy Joe Saunders was last Saturday night, Andrade would have been a MUCH more difficult opponent for him than he was.
Andrade has punching power, speed, and the ability to throw combinations. Overall, Andrade would have considerably more difficult for Canelo to deal with than the 31-year-old Brit Saunders with his anemic offense.
Andrade, 32, used the same press-conference challenge that Erislandy Lara successfully employed in 2014 to get a fight with Canelo.
However, in this case, Canelo already has plans to face IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant next in September, and he’s not going to take a detour to take an arguably more difficult fight against Andrade.
Andrade critiques Saunders’ performance
“From watching, I didn’t think Billy Joe was going to beat Canelo because his style wasn’t there,” said Demetrius Andrade to Secondsout. “He didn’t step up.
For Billy Joe not to be making any adjustments, he kept doing the amateur stuff, leaning down. All night, Canelo was waiting, waiting, waiting for the same shot [uppercut] and wound up catching him.
“That’s the question, ‘how to get in there with Canelo.’ Canelo has to want to do it,” said Andrade. “A dog is a dog and if not, he’s not a dog,” said Andrade about Saunders’ quitting on his stool. Was he going to win? Are you going to keep taking damage for what? That’s how their cornerman thought about it.
“If you want to be the best, fight the guy that nobody wants to fight, and that’s me,” said Andrade in sending a message to Canelo. “Fight a guy that is going to be a real challenge.”
