ATLANTA (October 23, 2013) - Undefeated light middleweight Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade (19-0, 13 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympian, is on a mission to complete a rare "boxing double" November 9, when he fights 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes "Nightmare" Martirosyan (33-0-1, 21 KOs) for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) 154-pound title.
Andrade vs. Martirosyan will be part of an HBO tripleheader, airing live from Corpus Christi, Texas, headlined by WBO junior lightweight Roman Martinez' title defense against Mikey Garcia, in addition to a rematch between former world champions Nonito Donaire and Vic Darchinyan.
In 2007, Andrade captured a gold medal as an amateur at the AIBA World Championships in Chicago. A Nov. 9th victory over Martirosyan would make Andrade one of the few contemporary world champions as both a professional and amateur.
The gifted southpaw can become the first native New Englander to be world champion of a major governing body since Massachusetts-born heavyweight John "The Quietman" Ruiz in 2005, as well as the first Rhode Islander to do the same since Cranston's light middleweight Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" in 1991.
"I honestly don't pay attention to anything other than working hard to reach my goal of becoming world champion," the 25-year-old said from his Atlanta training camp. "Everything else is irrelevant, at least for right now, as I train for my first world title fight. New England has had a lot of good fighters.
"I do know I am going to be the first (pro) world champion from the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. I just want to show the boxing world that I am the No. 1 light welterweight in the world and why I will be for years to come. I'm just beginning my legacy. I'm growing in stature and a lot more people are going to know me after November 9th."
Andrade credits his amateur boxing experience as the primary reason why fighting HBO for the first time won't be a problem, as well as his 300+ amateur fights giving him an advantage in the ring against any opponent.
"HBO is a big stage and I'm grateful to be fighting on HBO for the first time," Andrade noted, "but there's no bigger stage in boxing, world-wide, than The Olympics. I've fought under the bright lights, so fighting on HBO won't be anything new for me, or a distraction in any way.
"I've seen and beaten every style, fighting amateur opponents from all over the world, but nobody in the pros has fought anybody like me. I'm going into this fight with a lot of confidence. I've prepared for this moment my entire life. This is my time!"
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