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After almost three years out of the ring, Providence native Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) will make his return on Friday, July 24, against 35-year-old Brazilian Douglas Ataide (20-5-1, 11 KOs) at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Andrade is a U.S. Olympian and a former three-time, two-division world champion. His last professional fight was against David Benavidez on Nov. 25, 2023, where he suffered his first professional loss.
As he prepared for the fight, Andrade’s personal life was taking a turn for the worse. His mother had become terminally ill, and his younger brother was shot and left paralyzed. Andrade changed his training plans so that his father, who was his head trainer, could stay behind and take care of his mother and brother.
“I was literally going from one hospital floor to another – seeing my mother in a coma and then going upstairs to see my little brother – while trying to prepare for the biggest fight of my career,” Andrade said in a press release. “That’s something no one can prepare you for.”
Even though Andrade was struggling more than anyone could imagine, he didn’t want to pull out of the fight due to the fear that he may never get another chance to face an opponent like Benavidez again.
Andrade was landing early blows in the fight that were winning him rounds on the judges’ scorecards, but in the fourth round, a right hand from Benavidez rocked Andrade, and he was never able to recover fully. At the end of the sixth round, blood was pouring from Andrade’s mouth, and his corner waved off the fight.
After the match, Andrade stepped away from boxing to mourn the loss of his mother as well as focus on his family and “developing several thriving businesses.”
Now paired with CES Boxing founder and longtime Rhode Island boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr., Andrade believes it’s time to return to the ring.
“I give Douglas [Ataide] a lot of credit,” Andrade said in a press release issued by CES Boxing. “We reached out to a lot of fighters with bigger names who didn’t take the fight. Douglas stepped up and accepted the opportunity, and I respect that. Once that bell rings, though, it’s my job to hurt him.”
Before this fight, Ataide had fought former world champion Ryota Murata and world title challenger Jorge Heiland.
Andrade believes he’s ready for a late-stage resurgence in his career and has already thought of a few names he’d like to face in the future.
“I want to become a three-division world champion, but there’s also unfinished business,” Andrade said in the press release. “There are fights that should have happened years ago that still make sense today. Caleb Plant, the Charlo brothers, Edgar Berlanga [and] Jamie Munguia. I’m ready to fight all of them.”
Though Andrade said he’s no longer going to wait for those fights to come to him, he’ll rather create his own opportunities and look to claim the 168-pound title that’s eluded him for his career.
The July 24 match between Andrade and Ataide is one of two headline events at Championship Jackpot 2026, with the other being between WBC International Featherweight Champion "King" Kevin Walsh and Dannis Arias.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 'Boo Boo' Andrade eyes comeback after family tragedy
Continue reading...
Andrade is a U.S. Olympian and a former three-time, two-division world champion. His last professional fight was against David Benavidez on Nov. 25, 2023, where he suffered his first professional loss.
As he prepared for the fight, Andrade’s personal life was taking a turn for the worse. His mother had become terminally ill, and his younger brother was shot and left paralyzed. Andrade changed his training plans so that his father, who was his head trainer, could stay behind and take care of his mother and brother.
“I was literally going from one hospital floor to another – seeing my mother in a coma and then going upstairs to see my little brother – while trying to prepare for the biggest fight of my career,” Andrade said in a press release. “That’s something no one can prepare you for.”
Even though Andrade was struggling more than anyone could imagine, he didn’t want to pull out of the fight due to the fear that he may never get another chance to face an opponent like Benavidez again.
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Andrade was landing early blows in the fight that were winning him rounds on the judges’ scorecards, but in the fourth round, a right hand from Benavidez rocked Andrade, and he was never able to recover fully. At the end of the sixth round, blood was pouring from Andrade’s mouth, and his corner waved off the fight.
After the match, Andrade stepped away from boxing to mourn the loss of his mother as well as focus on his family and “developing several thriving businesses.”
Now paired with CES Boxing founder and longtime Rhode Island boxing promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr., Andrade believes it’s time to return to the ring.
“I give Douglas [Ataide] a lot of credit,” Andrade said in a press release issued by CES Boxing. “We reached out to a lot of fighters with bigger names who didn’t take the fight. Douglas stepped up and accepted the opportunity, and I respect that. Once that bell rings, though, it’s my job to hurt him.”
Before this fight, Ataide had fought former world champion Ryota Murata and world title challenger Jorge Heiland.
Andrade believes he’s ready for a late-stage resurgence in his career and has already thought of a few names he’d like to face in the future.
“I want to become a three-division world champion, but there’s also unfinished business,” Andrade said in the press release. “There are fights that should have happened years ago that still make sense today. Caleb Plant, the Charlo brothers, Edgar Berlanga [and] Jamie Munguia. I’m ready to fight all of them.”
Though Andrade said he’s no longer going to wait for those fights to come to him, he’ll rather create his own opportunities and look to claim the 168-pound title that’s eluded him for his career.
The July 24 match between Andrade and Ataide is one of two headline events at Championship Jackpot 2026, with the other being between WBC International Featherweight Champion "King" Kevin Walsh and Dannis Arias.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 'Boo Boo' Andrade eyes comeback after family tragedy
Continue reading...
