On Saturday night, WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (27-0, 17 KOs) will make his second middleweight title defense against dangerous challenger Maciej Sulecki (28-1, 11 KOs) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, and live exclusively on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Two-division world champion Andrade, 31, will fight for the first time as a professional in his hometown of Providence where he is largely considered the top amateur in Rhode Island history. The winner of Saturday night’s scrap on DAZN could catapult themselves into consideration for a huge middleweight title unification fight.

Andrade’s defense against Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of action as unbeaten Briton Kal Yafai defends his WBA Super Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian challenger Alex Leapai in a scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight.

Below is what the fighters had to say at today’s press conference:

Demetrius Andrade

“It’s me again. Tall, black and handsome. On Saturday, I am going to do what I have been doing. No disrespect to Sulecki, he’s been in there with my boy Danny Jacobs and other guys I have fought. I heard Sulecki went into the hotel and put a drawing of me and it shows my head knocked off. But the last guy that did something like that, he got his ass whooped and he will get his ass whooped, too. Best of luck to all of the great fighters on the card this weekend. DAZN continues to do a great job keeping me active and getting these kids shine.

“I had my first few weeks of training out in California with Victor Conte. That went great. But hey, it’s me again and this is my show. Good luck to Sulecki, I hope he puts on a good performance then gets his ass whooped.”

Maciej Sulecki

“Thanks to Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, DAZN, my team, my trainer. Everyone who made this opportunity possible. It was a very good training camp. Three weeks in Poland and then seven more weeks in New York. I am ready for a very tough fight with Andrade. Before I came to the U.S., I had great respect for Andrade. But when I came here, I lost all respect for him. He just talks too much. He thinks he is as good as the other great fighters like GGG but he is not. I know one thing about him, and it’s that he doesn’t respect anyone. He is disrespectful.”

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Demetrius Andrade believes his big homecoming night will be the perfect showcase to secure blockbuster fights as he defends his WBO World Middleweight title against Maciej Sulecki on Saturday June 29 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Andrade (27-0 17 KOs) fights at home for the first time as a World champion in the second defense of the 160lb crown he landed in Boston in October against Walter Kautondokwa and then stopped Artur Akavov in New York in January in his first defense.

The two-weight World ruler now gets the chance to thrill his hometown fans against Sulecki (28-1 11 KOs), the Pole that landed the clash coming out on top of a rollercoaster clash with Gabriel Rosado in March – and believes that a stand-out performance as a hometown headliner will see him land the fights that he craves with Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin.

“Fighting at home is really exciting,” said Andrade. “In a way it’s more exciting for the fans in Providence as I’ve fought all over the world already. So, to give my hometown the chance to watch me display my skills, talent, work ethic is going to be great for them – they’re going to see greatness from one of their own. I’ve got two full passports from travelling the world and it’s a privilege to do that, to see the world and learn and gain experience, so to come home for such a big fight is great.

“I’m an Olympian and a two-weight World champion, but that’s not enough because there’s a lot of people that haven’t seen my talent displayed in the mainstream like some other fighters, like Canelo Alvarez, as Golden Boy did a great job moving him and GGG had great promotion too, but they’re not the greatest talents out there, they are just the most popular. It’s called prize fighting and I am looking to capitalize on that, with the capital.

“I’ve got air in me now. Should I have been the guy like Canelo with the machine behind him? Yeah, I could’ve been that, but it didn’t fall that way for me, but now I’m here. I kept my focus in mind, body and soul and continued to grind, because anyone else, this boxing game is hard and people give up, especially when there’s no money coming in as you have to pay the bills.

“I’ve been through the politics of boing and found my way out of it, just like I’ve found my way to win in every fight. Being who I am and having the team around me has got me to the point where I’m headlining the Dunk as an undefeated World champion.

“Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing USA have realized the talent and the character that I am, and DAZN are doing a great job too, giving the different characters in the sport the exposure so that people can tune in outside the people we already know. Through the obstacles I’ve been through, they tried to sweep me under the rug, I got back up, wiped off the dirt and it’s me again.

“To be the first Cape Verdean as an undisputed champion would be history and the same for New England, we’ve only really had Vinny Paz and that was 30 years ago. I’m continuing to catapult myself to be the best I can and set the bar high for others.”

Andrade’s clash with Sulecki is part of a blockbuster night of World championship boxing as Briton’s Kal Yafai defends his WBA World Super-Flyweight title against mandatory challenger Norbelto Jimenez and former Heavyweight king Joseph Parker takes on Australian former World title challenger Alex Leapai.

Boston’s Mark DeLuca faces Canadian Brandon Brewer over ten rounds at Super-Welterweight, young talents Alexis Espino and Raymond Ford taste their third action in the paid ranks, local favorite Anthony Marsella faces Jose Aubel, with another unbeaten Providence fighter Anthony Concepcion also featuring.

Tickets are on sale NOW – starting at just $28 (including fees) from https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/010056AAED7788D1?brand=dunkindonuts&camefrom=cfc_dd_center_boxing19_web

PHOTO VIA Matchroom Boxing

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ANDRADE AND SULECKI DRAW BATTLE LINES IN PROVIDENCE

Demetrius Andrade and Maciej Sulecki came face-to-face for the first time as they prepare to clash in Andrade’s first hometown fight and second defense of his WBO World Middleweight title at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday June 29, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK.

Andrade (27-0 17 KOs) has had to wait to top the bill in his Providence backyard but does so in the most important fight of his spotless career – with promoter Eddie Hearn rightly calling ‘Boo Boo’s’ WBO strap the missing piece of the undisputed puzzle at 160lbs.

The two-time two-weight World ruler has made no secret of his desire to fight WBA, WBC, IBF and Ring magazine king Canelo Alvarez for all the marbles, so victory against the rugged Pole is a must on June 29.
Sulecki (28-1 11 KOs) has promised to rip the title from Andrade and launch himself into that A1 position himself, and the 30 year old showed both his ability, desire and heart in a rollercoaster clash with Gabriel Rosado in Philadelphia in March.

That win landed Sulecki the shot at Andrade, but the champion believes that this is a breakout fight for him and the challengers style will provide him with the perfect showcase for his undisputed credentials.

“It’s that time – Providence, Rhode Island – wow,” said Andrade. “It’s my homecoming, it’s an exciting moment for me, my family and my team. It’s a great honor to be headlining at home.

“Maciej is a good fighter, there’s no doubt. He’s had some tough grueling fights, he’s shown balls to win, but on June 29 that won’t happen. I’ve got an answer for everything he brings and this is my time – he’s got this far, but he goes no further – no one is stopping this train.

“I’ve been through a lot, people see me smiling but I’ve had to fight hard to be World champion, twice, and now I’ve got the chance to show my people what I do. The wolf is coming out, I’m breaking bones and biting hard – Sulecki comes to fight ad that’s what I want, he’s going to show my skills off and show that I am the man in this division.”

“I want to thank the Polish fans and American fans for supporting me,” said Sulecki. “I am here because I want to win this fight and I will be 100 per cent ready. He’s a good fighter, a two-time World champion, but he’s not boxed anyone as good as me. It’s my dream to be World champion and on June 29 that dream comes true.”

“The WBO is the final link to undisputed,” said Hearn. “There’s a guy called Canelo with the other belts but you cannot be undisputed without this belt, and the winner on June 29 takes a step closer to being undisputed.

“Demetrius has been searching for that fighter that comes to fight – and Maciej comes to fight every time. He will never, ever go into his shell, he’s coming to fight for every second of the 12 three-minute World championship rounds.

“I have wanted to bring a fight to Dunkin’ Donuts since we signed Demetrius and this is the first World title fight in Rhode Island in 28 years – we need the city to get behind this event and this great Providence fighter, this is your opportunity to come out and support an elite fighter that is one of your own.

“There will be a great undercard announced next week in support of this brilliant World title fight, with another World title fight and a big Heavyweight title fight plus lots of young talents and local favorites.”

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The Middleweight clash between Gabriel Rosado and Maciej Sulecki on Friday night (March 15) at the Liacouras Center, Philadelphia will be shown live on DAZN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK.

Rosado and Sulecki promised to be a war from the get-go when the fight was announced in January, but now the WBO International title will be on the line.

Rosado (24-11-1 14 KOs) is back in action following his closely fought draw with Luis Arias in Mulvane, Kansas in November – another contentious fight for the Philly favorite who will now be chasing a third World title shot in his first fight on home turf in seven years.

Sulecki (27-1 11 KOs) is hunting a first World title shot having returned to winning ways in November with a second round stoppage of Jean Michel Hamilcaro in his native Poland. The 29 year old gave Daniel Jacobs a stern test in April before the Brooklyn man moved on to become a two-weight World ruler, and Sulecki will believe that experience will serve him against Rosado.

WBO ruler Andrade defended his title live on DAZN in January against Artur Akavov at Madison Square Garden in New York, and the streaming giants rubber-stamped their status as the home of the elite Middleweights by adding Kazakh star Gennady Golovkin to the phenomenal roster of 160lbers, with Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs clashing in a unification blockbuster on DAZN on May 4 in Las Vegas.

“I’m pretty sure that the winner of Saturday’s fight will be the next opponent for Demetrius in June,” said Hearn. “It’s a massive fight for Gabe and Maciej – we know that DAZN is the home of the Middleweights and these two have the opportunity on Friday to unlock the door to the big time.

“I expect an absolute war between both men, I think it could be fight of the night and on this card, that’s saying something!”

Rosado’s clash with Sulecki is part of a huge night of action in Philadelphia on St Patrick’s weekend topped by a World title double-header as Philly’s Tevin Farmer (28-4-1 6 KOs) comes home to defend his IBF Super-Featherweight title against Ireland’s Jono Carroll (16-0-1 3 KOs), and Irish sensation Katie Taylor (12-0 5 KOs) looks to unify the Lightweight division once again, putting her IBF and WBA straps on the line against Brazil’s WBO champion Rose Volante (14-0 8 KOs).

https://www.boxingscene.com/hearn-rosado-vs-sulecki-winner-likely-next-andrade–136985

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