By James Stillerman: Undefeated 24 year old, Providence, Rhode Island pugilists, Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade, continued his climb up the middleweight division with a dominating second round knockout of Alexis “Hurricane” Hlores at the 11th annual Fight to Educate Pro-Am Card at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Andrade, the 2008 US Olympian, dominated the first round as he had Hlores on the ropes throughout and stunned him several times. Andrade continued the dominance into the second round as he knocked down Hlores with a straight left hook. Hlores got up slowly but Andrade was all over him and seconds later sent him to the canvas again curtsey of a right hook. Hlores got up and beat the count; however the referee stopped the bout.
“I was being cautious and just feeling him out in the first round because I was trying to see what he could do,” said Andrade. “In the second record, I knew he couldn`t handle my jab and speed and then I showcased my power and that is what sealed the deal.”
With the technical knockout victory in the scheduled ten round bout, Andrade improved his record to 18-0, 13KOs while Hlores fell to 16-5-2, 12KOs. Andrade the former 2007 AIBA World Amateur champion, is currently ranked number four by the International Boxing Federation (IBF), number five by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), number ten by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and number 15 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
“I wanted to fight the best fighters out there like (former WBO champion Serhiy) Dzinziruk (37-1, 24Kos),” said Andrade. “He has only lost to the best in Sergio Martinez (in the 8th round) and he`d be great on my record.
Andrade, one of the better boxers from the New England area, has looked extremely impressive in his four years as a professional fighter as he has unbelievable hand speed, great defense and pretty good power. However, hopefully he can be matched against better competition next year if he wants to be prepared to fight the best boxing has to offer in the middleweight division, as he is prepared to do in the second half of 2013.
Chris Gilbert from Windsor, Vermont kept his undefeated record intact as he stopped Antonio Chaves Fernandez from Quincy, Massachusetts, by way of the Virgin Islands in the fourth round with a right uppercut. Antonio was stunned and slowly got up from the knockout; however the referee stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:50. With the technical knockout victory, Gilbert improved his record to 5-0, 4KOs while Fernandez fell to 2-8-1, OKOs. Gilbert dominated this scheduled six round welterweight bout throughout, landing a will and had Fernandez stunned several times. The previous weekend, Fernandez upset previously undefeated Irish National amateur champion, Michael McLaughlin in Boston, Massachusetts, nevertheless his upset steak did not carry over into this fight.
There were six amateur bouts, all of them three rounds on the undercard of this boxing event.
Rhode Island State Golden Gloves Champion from Providence, Rhode Island, Tevin Aleau defeated Brandon Berry, the Vermont Golden Gloves Champion, from Seaport, Maine in a three round super welterweight fight.
Vermont State Golden Glove Champion and New England Golden Glove Finalist, Nico Clow beat Richie Ford in a three round light heavyweight fight. Both fighters are from Claremont, New Hampshire.
In a three round heavyweight fight, John Rosa hailing from Lawrence, Massachusetts recorded a decision victory over Joel Bishop who lives in Searsport, Maine
Hailing from Somersworth, Maine, Zack Morel, in a three round welterweight bout, defeated Phil Kyser from Searsport, Maine.
Rory Stapleton from Lancaster, New Hampshire by way of Ireland won over Keenan Manzi who lives in Keene, New Hampshire in a three round light welterweight fight.
In a three round light flyweight bout, Wayne Stearns from Searsport, Maine decision Angel Tricoche from Haverhill, Massachusetts.