Introduction
Demetrius Andrade is an American professional boxer and former two-division world champion. Known by the nickname “Boo Boo,” he built his reputation through intelligent movement, accurate punching, quick reactions, and an unusual southpaw style.
He became a world champion at super welterweight and middleweight before moving into the super middleweight division. His career has included international amateur success, an Olympic appearance, three major championship wins, long unbeaten periods, and difficult gaps between important fights.
Like former cruiserweight contender David Light, Andrade’s story combines high-level skill, championship ambition, physical risk, and the challenge of rebuilding after a major defeat.
In short, Demetrius Andrade is a 2008 United States Olympian with a professional record of 32 wins, one loss, and 19 knockouts before his scheduled July 2026 return.
Demetrius Andrade Quick Bio
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Demetrius Cesar Andrade |
| Professional Name | Demetrius Andrade |
| Nickname | Boo Boo |
| Date of Birth | February 26, 1988 |
| Age | 38 years old |
| Birthplace | Providence, Rhode Island, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Cape Verdean descent |
| Profession | Professional boxer |
| Fighting Stance | Southpaw |
| Height | 6 feet or 183 cm |
| Reach | 73½ inches or 187 cm |
| Main Divisions | Super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight |
| Professional Debut | October 23, 2008 |
| Professional Record | 32 wins, 1 loss and 0 draws |
| Knockout Wins | 19 |
| Major Achievement | World champion in two weight divisions |
| Current Status | Scheduled to return on July 24, 2026 |
Who Is Demetrius Andrade?
Demetrius Andrade is a technically skilled boxer from Providence, Rhode Island. He is famous for representing the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and later winning world championships in two professional weight divisions.
He captured the WBO super welterweight title, the WBA super welterweight title, and the WBO middleweight championship during his career.
Andrade remained unbeaten through his first 32 professional contests. His first defeat came against David Benavidez in November 2023, when his corner stopped the contest after the sixth round.
His professional identity has been shaped by both success and frustration. He collected major belts and defeated respected opponents, but several of the biggest matchups discussed during his prime never took place.
Early Life and Boxing Background
Demetrius Andrade was born on February 26, 1988, in Providence, Rhode Island. He grew up in a family with Cape Verdean roots.
His father, Paul Andrade, played an important role in his boxing development. Demetrius spent time around his father’s gym as a young child and began learning the sport at approximately six years old.
The nickname “Boo Boo” came from his adventurous behaviour during childhood. He often climbed trees, jumped from high places, and returned home with small injuries or bruises.
Boxing soon became more than a childhood activity. Andrade developed balance, speed, discipline, and the ability to think calmly while under pressure.
Successful Amateur Career
Before entering professional boxing, Andrade became one of the strongest American amateur fighters of his generation.
He won United States amateur championships in 2005 and 2006. He also collected National Golden Gloves titles in 2006 and 2007.
In 2007, he earned a silver medal in the welterweight division at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro. He narrowly lost the final to Brazilian boxer Pedro Lima.
Later that year, Andrade produced one of the greatest achievements of his amateur career by winning gold at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago.
His victory made him one of the first American men since 1999 to win a world amateur boxing title. He defeated a series of international opponents before overcoming Non Boonjumnong of Thailand in the final.
His rise through world competition followed the demanding Olympic pathway experienced by elite athletes in other disciplines, including British BMX champion Bethany Shriever.
United States Olympic Team
Andrade earned his position on the 2008 United States Olympic boxing team after an impressive performance at the national trials.
He completed the trials with four victories and defeated future professional world champion Keith Thurman in the final.
At the Beijing Olympic Games, Andrade competed in the men’s welterweight division. He defeated Kakhaber Zhvania of Georgia and Andrey Balanov of Russia in his opening contests.
His Olympic journey ended in the quarterfinals when he lost a close 11–9 decision to Kim Jung-Joo of South Korea.
Although he left Beijing without a medal, the experience established him as one of the most promising American boxing prospects entering the professional ranks.
Professional Boxing Debut
Demetrius Andrade made his professional debut on October 23, 2008, against Patrick Cape at Northern Quest Casino in Washington.
He won the fight by second-round technical knockout.
Andrade remained active during the early part of his professional career. His combination of speed, movement, punching angles, and defensive awareness helped him build an unbeaten record.
He defeated fighters including Grady Brewer, Angel Hernandez, Rudy Cisneros, Alexis Hloros, and Freddy Hernandez while moving closer to a world-title opportunity.
By 2013, he was ready to compete for his first major championship.
First World Championship
Andrade challenged Vanes Martirosyan for the vacant WBO super welterweight title on November 9, 2013.
He suffered a knockdown in the opening round but remained composed. Andrade adjusted his distance, increased the use of his jab, and gradually took control of the contest.
After 12 rounds, he won by split decision and became a professional world champion for the first time.
His first defence came against Brian Rose at Barclays Center in June 2014. Andrade dominated the British challenger and won by seventh-round technical knockout.
However, inactivity later affected his position. He was stripped of the WBO belt after a long period without a title defence.
Willie Nelson Victory and WBA Title
Andrade returned to a major televised contest against Willie Nelson in June 2016.
He dropped Nelson several times and stopped him in the twelfth round. The performance showed that he still had the skill, timing, and finishing ability needed to compete with leading contenders.
In March 2017, he travelled to Germany to challenge Jack Culcay for the WBA super welterweight championship.
Fighting away from home, Andrade earned a split-decision victory after 12 competitive rounds. The result made him a world champion again.
Later in 2017, he moved up to middleweight and defeated the previously unbeaten Alantez Fox by unanimous decision.
WBO Middleweight Champion
One of Andrade’s most important career periods began in October 2018.
He faced Walter Kautondokwa for the vacant WBO middleweight championship at TD Garden in Boston. Andrade scored several knockdowns and earned a wide unanimous-decision victory.
He successfully defended the WBO title five times.
His championship run included victories over Artur Akavov, Maciej Sulecki, Luke Keeler, Liam Williams, and Jason Quigley.
Andrade stopped Akavov in the twelfth round and defeated Sulecki by unanimous decision. He later stopped Keeler in round nine.
In April 2021, Liam Williams placed Andrade under pressure during a physical fight, but the champion used his movement and experience to earn another unanimous decision.
His final WBO middleweight defence came against Jason Quigley in November 2021. Andrade dropped Quigley several times and ended the bout in the second round.
The detailed statistics and official fight history are available through Andrade’s Premier Boxing Champions fighter profile.
Why the Biggest Fights Did Not Happen
Andrade regularly expressed interest in facing the biggest names around the super welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Potential fights involving Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, and Billy Joe Saunders were discussed at different points.
However, promotional relationships, broadcasting agreements, mandatory challengers, injuries, financial negotiations, and changes in weight divisions prevented many of those contests from happening.
This became one of the most debated parts of Andrade’s career. Supporters believed his difficult style made leading opponents reluctant to face him.
Critics argued that long periods of inactivity and a lack of career-defining opposition prevented him from building the wider popularity achieved by other champions.
Move to Super Middleweight
Andrade eventually left the WBO middleweight championship behind and moved into the 168-pound super middleweight division.
He made his super middleweight debut against Demond Nicholson on January 7, 2023.
Andrade controlled the bout with speed, distance management, and accurate combinations. He won by unanimous decision after ten rounds.
The victory extended his professional record to 32–0 and prepared him for the most dangerous contest of his career.
Fight Against David Benavidez
Demetrius Andrade faced David Benavidez on November 25, 2023, for the interim WBC super middleweight championship.
Andrade began the fight with confidence. He used movement, combinations, and changes of angle to compete during the early rounds.
The contest changed as Benavidez increased his pressure and began landing heavier punches. Andrade was dropped in the fourth round but continued fighting.
Benavidez’s size, physical pressure, and attacking volume became increasingly difficult to manage. After the sixth round, Andrade’s corner stopped the fight.
The result was the first defeat of Andrade’s professional career.
Although the loss ended his unbeaten record, he received respect for accepting a dangerous matchup and continuing after being hurt.
The determination to rebuild after painful sporting setbacks is also seen in combat athletes such as UFC welterweight Geoff Neal.
Long Period Away From Competition
After the Benavidez contest, Andrade remained away from professional competition for more than two years.
The break created questions about his future. He was already in his mid-thirties, and inactivity had affected several earlier stages of his career.
However, Andrade continued discussing possible fights and made it clear that he had not formally ended his boxing journey.
He later stated that he remained physically preserved because he had not absorbed the same level of punishment as many fighters with similarly long careers.
Demetrius Andrade Comeback in 2026
Demetrius Andrade is scheduled to return to professional boxing on Friday, July 24, 2026.
He is set to headline CES Boxing’s Championship Jackpot event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The event brings him back to New England, close to his home state of Rhode Island and the region where he began building his professional reputation.
As of June 22, 2026, his opponent had not been officially announced.
The comeback will be his first contest since the November 2023 defeat against David Benavidez. Andrade enters the return with a record of 32 wins, one loss, and 19 knockout victories.
The scheduled event is listed by CES Boxing, which has promoted the card as the beginning of another chapter in Andrade’s career.
His performance will help determine whether he can return to championship contention or target recognised names in the super middleweight division.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Andrade fights from a southpaw stance. This places his right hand and right foot forward, creating different angles for opponents who usually face orthodox boxers.
He uses a long jab, quick lead hooks, straight left hands, feints, and sudden changes in rhythm.
His height and reach allow him to control distance effectively. He can attack from the outside before moving away from an opponent’s return punches.
Andrade is also comfortable changing levels, stepping around an opponent, and creating awkward exchanges. His movements do not always follow a predictable rhythm.
Unlike pressure-based strikers such as Gina Mazany, Andrade usually depends on timing, positioning, defensive awareness, and tactical control.
His greatest strengths include hand speed, ring intelligence, footwork, accuracy, balance, and the ability to make adjustments during a fight.
Weaknesses and Career Challenges
Andrade’s movement-focused style can sometimes reduce the amount of continuous action in his fights.
When opponents refuse to take risks, contests can become tactical and slow. This occasionally affected his ability to attract casual boxing audiences.
Inactivity has been another major challenge. Long breaks between fights interrupted his momentum during important years of his career.
His fight against Benavidez also showed the difficulty of competing against a naturally larger boxer who can apply heavy pressure for several rounds.
Similar to UFC fighter Jordan Leavitt, Andrade has built his public identity around using an unconventional style rather than following a standard attacking approach.
Professional Boxing Record
Before his scheduled July 2026 return, Andrade’s professional record stands at:
| Record Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Professional Fights | 33 |
| Wins | 32 |
| Knockout Wins | 19 |
| Decision Wins | 13 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
| Rounds Boxed | 206 |
| Knockout Percentage | Approximately 59% |
His only professional defeat came against David Benavidez in 2023.
Major Career Achievements
- Won gold at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships
- Earned silver at the 2007 Pan American Games
- Represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics
- Won the WBO super welterweight championship in 2013
- Defended the WBO title against Brian Rose
- Won the WBA super welterweight championship in 2017
- Won the WBO middleweight championship in 2018
- Made five successful WBO middleweight title defences
- Remained unbeaten through his first 32 professional fights
- Won world championships in two weight divisions
Demetrius Andrade Career Timeline
| Year | Career Event |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Began learning boxing at approximately six years old |
| 2005 | Won the United States amateur championship |
| 2006 | Won another US amateur title and a National Golden Gloves title |
| 2007 | Won Pan American silver and World Championship gold |
| 2008 | Represented the United States at the Beijing Olympics |
| 2008 | Made his professional boxing debut |
| 2013 | Defeated Vanes Martirosyan for the WBO super welterweight title |
| 2014 | Defended the championship against Brian Rose |
| 2016 | Stopped Willie Nelson in the twelfth round |
| 2017 | Defeated Jack Culcay for the WBA super welterweight title |
| 2018 | Won the WBO middleweight championship |
| 2019–2021 | Completed five successful middleweight title defences |
| 2023 | Made his super middleweight debut against Demond Nicholson |
| 2023 | Suffered his first professional loss against David Benavidez |
| 2026 | Scheduled to return at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 24 |
Benavidez vs Andrade Highlights
Public Image and Boxing Legacy
Demetrius Andrade is respected as one of the most technically gifted American boxers of his era.
His amateur achievements alone place him among the leading United States boxing prospects of the 2000s. Winning a world amateur gold medal and reaching an Olympic quarterfinal required exceptional ability.
As a professional, he became a champion at two weights and remained unbeaten for approximately 15 years.
However, his legacy is complicated by the major fights that did not happen. He did not receive opportunities against several of the most recognised champions active during his best years.
This has created two different views of his career. One presents him as an avoided and highly skilled champion. The other questions whether his opposition was strong enough to fully prove his elite status.
His 2026 comeback gives him an opportunity to add a final chapter to that story.
Interesting Facts About Demetrius Andrade
- His nickname “Boo Boo” developed from the bumps and bruises he received during his adventurous childhood.
- He began boxing when he was approximately six years old.
- His father, Paul Andrade, helped guide his early development.
- He defeated future professional champion Keith Thurman during the United States Olympic trials.
- He won world titles at both 154 and 160 pounds.
- He defeated Jack Culcay in Germany to win the WBA championship.
- He successfully defended the WBO middleweight title five times.
- His first professional loss came in his thirty-third fight.
- His July 2026 comeback is scheduled to take place near his New England home region.
Conclusion
Demetrius Andrade’s biography tells the story of a gifted American boxer whose career has included amateur gold, Olympic competition, professional world championships, inactivity, missed opportunities, and a difficult first defeat.
He proved his quality by becoming a champion in two weight divisions and maintaining an unbeaten professional record through 32 contests.
His technical southpaw style, movement, reach, and ring intelligence made him one of the most awkward opponents of his generation.
The next stage of his career begins with his planned return on July 24, 2026. At 38 years old, the comeback could determine whether Andrade can make another championship run or complete his career with a final series of meaningful fights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Demetrius Andrade?
He is an American professional boxer, 2008 Olympian, and former world champion in two weight divisions.
What is Demetrius Andrade’s full name?
His full name is Demetrius Cesar Andrade.
How old is Demetrius Andrade?
He is 38 years old as of June 2026.
When was Demetrius Andrade born?
He was born on February 26, 1988.
Where was he born?
He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
Why is Demetrius Andrade called Boo Boo?
The nickname came from the bumps and bruises he regularly received during his adventurous childhood.
What is Demetrius Andrade’s professional record?
His record stands at 32 wins, one loss, and 19 knockouts before his scheduled July 2026 comeback.
Is Demetrius Andrade a world champion?
Yes. He won world titles in the super welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Did he compete in the Olympics?
Yes. He represented the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and reached the welterweight quarterfinals.
Who defeated Demetrius Andrade?
David Benavidez handed him his first professional defeat in November 2023.
Is Demetrius Andrade still boxing?
Yes. He is scheduled to return at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 24, 2026.
Who will Demetrius Andrade fight in 2026?
His opponent had not been officially announced as of June 22, 2026.
