Demetrius Andrade y Zach Parker vuelven a poner sobre la mesa su combate eliminatorio WBO del peso supermedio
Daniel Pi
@BastionBoxeo
Sin una sola defensa desde noviembre de 2021 y ninguna defensa obligatoria desde abril de ese mismo año, hacía tiempo que el estadounidense Demetrius Andrade debería haber tomado una decisión sobre su cinturón mundial WBO del peso medio. No obstante, el fin de la colaboración de Andrade con Matchroom Boxing ha reducido su capacidad de maniobra y la Organización no ha presionado mucho al púgil.
Con todo, finalmente las cosas se han vuelto a poner en marcha, habiendo comunicado el mánager de Andrade a la WBO que su boxeador, al igual que Jaime Munguía, se va a negar otra vez a enfrentarse a su retador obligatorio, el titular interino WBO del peso medio Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. Contrariamente, Andrade que ha logrado apoyarse en la representación promocional de Dmitry Salita, líder de Salita Promotions, ha solicitado una vez más enfrentarse al aspirante obligatorio WBO del peso supermedio, el púgil de Reino Unido Zach Parker.
Recordemos que Parker y Andrade estaban emplazados a una pelea en un estadio británico antes de que el segundo afirmase que una lesión le iba a impedir combatir, algo que generó muchas críticas sabiéndose por sus propias redes sociales que el boxeador no estaba entrenando y que estaba centrado en viajes y actividades recreativas.
Sin embargo, acorralado y sin otra perspectiva que enfrentarse al peligroso Alimkhanuly, ahora Andrade de nuevo dice estar dispuesto a medirse a Parker, algo para lo que la WBO ha dado su visto bueno oficialmente incluso aunque el campeón todavía no ha dejado su cinturón mundial del peso medio vacante.
Según la carta emitida a ambos equipos por la WBO, Parker y Andrade tienen 10 días para alcanzar un acuerdo o, de lo contrario, se irá a una subasta con pujas mínimas de 300.000 dólares. Además, el organismo ha especificado que si hay una subasta ambos boxeadores tendrán dos días para confirmar si van a pelear, que el 20% de la puja ganadora se tendrá que presentar ante la WBO y un tercer punto muy interesante: la WBO se reserva el derecho a ordenar una pelea entre el ganador del Parker-Andrade y el aspirante mandatorio de otro organismo mundial.
Es decir, como el campeón indiscutido (WBA, WBC, IBF y WBO) del peso supermedio Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez tiene que afrontar múltiples requerimientos obligatorios, parece que la WBO y los otros organismos han acordado posibles duelos entre aspirantes oficiales.
En cualquier caso, para que estas y otras cuestiones se desarrollen, primero será necesario que esta vez verdaderamente Parker y Andrade se enfrenten, algo que, a estas alturas de la carrera del estadounidense, no se puede dar en absoluto como garantizado.
Demetrius Andrade and Zach Parker put their WBO super middleweight elimination match back on the negotiation table
Daniel Pi
@BastionBoxing
Without a single defense since November 2021 and no mandatory defenses since April of that same year, the American Demetrius Andrade should have made a decision about his WBO middleweight world belt long ago. However, the end of Andrade’s collaboration with Matchroom Boxing has reduced his ability to maneuver and the Organization has not put much pressure on the fighter.
However, things have finally started moving again. Andrade’s manager has informed to the WBO that his boxer, like Jaime Munguía, is going to refuse again to face his mandatory challenger, the interim WBO titleholder middleweight Zhanibek Alimkhanuly. On the contrary, Andrade, who has obtained promotional representation of Dmitry Salita, leader of Salita Promotions, has requested once again to face the mandatory WBO super middleweight challenger, the Brit Zach Parker.
Let’s remember that Parker and Andrade were set to battle in a British stadium before the latter stated that an injury was going to prevent him from fighting. This generated a lot of criticism against Andrade, as it was known through his own social networks that the boxer was not training and that he was focused on traveling and other recreational activities.
Nevertheless, cornered and with no other prospect than facing the dangerous Alimkhanuly, now Andrade again says he is willing to face Parker, something for which the WBO has officially given its approval, even though the champion has not yet vacated his world middleweight belt.
According to the letter issued to both teams by the WBO, Parker and Andrade have 10 days to reach an agreement or else the bout will go to purse bid with minimum bids of $300,000. In addition, the organization has specified first that, if there is an auction, both boxers will have two days after it to confirm if they are going to fight, second that 20% of the winning bid will have to be lodged in the WBO offices and third that the WBO reserves the right to order a mandatory fight between the winner of the Parker-Andrade clash and the mandatory challenger of another sanctioning body.
That is to say, as the undisputed super middleweight champion (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO) Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez has to face multiple mandatory requirements, it seems that the WBO and the other organizations have agreed on possible duels between official challengers.
In any case, for these and other issues to develop, it will first be necessary for Parker and Andrade to really face each other this time, something that, at this point in the American’s career, cannot be taken as guaranteed at all.