Quote Originally Posted by Violent Demise
Quote Originally Posted by killersheep
I'm surprised noone drafted Andrade yet, at any rate I think he may have the tool kit to take over the division (exception Calzaghe) I wouldn't mind seeing him fight Lacy either.........
I think he takes Calzaghe too.
I have doubts about Andrade being able to mix it with the very best.

!½ years ago (Feb-mar 2005) he sparred Kessler in California. Here's a piece from (i believe) a local boxing reporter on the sessions (mostly about Kessler who at the time was largely unknown).

Report & Photos by Will "The Thrill" Trillo

After this past weekend the name that may come to mind first when the subject of Super Middleweights is debated is IBF Champ Jeff Lacy. If you surf the web you may think that WBO Champ Joe Calzaghe (38-0; 30KOs) and interim champ Mario Veit (45-1; 23KOs) are the talk at 168 pounds. Yet the one name that may slip through the cracks is Denmarks Mikkel Kessler. He is the WBA Super Middle Champ if you are asking. He is 35-0 with 27 KO's with 17 of those Knockouts coming in 3 rounds or less. He is 26 years old and he stands 6'1".

Enough for the formal introduction, recently Kessler came to Southern California, more specifically La Habra, to get in some sparring with some quality fighters at his weight, and he found them in the Orange County town as Julio Gonzalez, Librado Andrade and his brother Enrique all make the gym in La Habra their home stable.

In all honesty, my first thoughts were, "Ah, another European Champ, I am sure he will regret coming into this gym!" After the first couple of rounds I realized I couldn't have been more incorrect in my thinking. As he sparred with all three, I saw an elusive target with a nice stiff jab, good movement and plenty of power! That is not what I expected, it came as a bit of a surprise to all 3 fighters as well, who all agreed that Mikkel is a Champ to be reckoned with in the Super Middle Division.
What also came as a pleasant surprise was that Kessler speaks perfect English, needless to say we didn't let the chance to talk to the WBA Champ go by.
This part was followed by a Q&A with Kessler which i left out.

Now appart from this article there were some rumours from ppl who had supposedly witnessed the sparring, that the article had actually been very kind to Andrade. That in fact he'd been in all sorts of trouble with Kessler.

I know it's just rumours and that you shouldn't pay too much attention to what happens in sparring. But i don't really see Andrade being the next big thing as long as Calzaghe and Kessler are around.

I also think Bute is probably the bigger talent of the two. Given a year or two he'll be a far bigger threat.