Liam Williams v Demetrius Andrade

[SlimTrae]

I like Williams , he’s technically very accomplished, and I would love to see him do this. But I always felt he wasn’t a very big LMW , so at MW I think he’s gonna struggle against a pretty decent fighter.
I hope I’m wrong.

Nope, you'll be right. Andrade UD.

[Dark Lord Al]

Williams has that Colin Jones look about him, solid, good chin, and hammer fisted.
I will be wanting him to win.

[Master]

'SMOKE AND MIRRORS' Demetrius Andrade brands Billy Joe Saunders a ‘lying disgrace’ and says he wants to ‘f*** him up’ in explosive rant

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE has launched a blistering attack on Billy Joe Saunders, branding the WBO super-middleweight champ a 'disgrace'.

Andrade was set to throw down with the Brit in October 2018 before a failed drug test - the result of Saunders using a nasal spray - scuppered their Boston brawl.

The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission denied Saunders a license to compete, despite the British Boxing Board of Control clearing the 31-year-old of any wrongdoing.

But American Andrade reckons the Welwyn warrior never wanted to share the ring with him.

During an appearance on Brian Custer’s Last Stand Podcast, a fired-up Andrade - who will face Brit Liam Williams this weekend - said: “Smoke and mirrors on Billy Joe’s side.

“He went out there and said, 'I'll fight Demetrius.' He didn’t want to wait on Canelo until May.

“But he pretty much just used my name for leverage to make the deal, meaning 'yo we want this much money or we’re going to fight Demetrius Andrade.'

“We know you don’t want to fight Demetrius Andrade, and the possibility of us losing is high fighting Demetrius Andrade.

“He’s a cheat. He’s a liar. He’s a disgrace. I can’t wait because if I could put these hands on him, I’m going to f*** him up!”

The undefeated Saunders is currently gearing up for his super-middleweight unification fight with Canelo Alvarez on May 8.

“The Brits like dancing and moving and thinking they’ve gotta run away, but I will be there for him to hit.

“I will be in range for him to hit. I’ll be setting traps, the same as he’ll be setting traps.

“I don’t think running a million miles an hour is gonna do me any justice.

“He’s not got the best engine in the world, Canelo.

“He’s very good at what he does, extremely good at what he does, but there’s faults there.

“We’ve seen people try to run away and box him, we’ve seen people try to use the brawn, but we’ve only seen one man use his brain and that was Floyd Mayweather.

“Brain over brawn here. Brain wins this, technical thinking wins this.”

Saunders has been training at the UFC's Performance Institute in Las Vegas ahead of the biggest fight of his career, which he goes into a big underdog.

But the slick southpaw is confident of handing the hard-hitting Mexican only his second professional defeat.
He told talkSPORT: “I’m the seventh Brit he’s faced, he’s dealt with six of them very comfortably.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/14649...unders-canelo/

[SlimTrae]

'SMOKE AND MIRRORS' Demetrius Andrade says he wants to ‘f*** him up’ in explosive rant

I interpret that to mean a safety first -take it to the scorecard type of fight.

[Master]

Chris Eubank Jr could target the winner of Demetrius Andrade vs Liam Williams, says Kalle Sauerland

Kalle Sauerland on Chris Eubank Jr facing Liam Williams: "I'd love to promote that because the build-up would be naughty!"

Chris Eubank Jr is keeping an eye on the world title match-up between Demetrius Andrade and Liam Williams for a future challenge, says promoter Kalle Sauerland.

Undefeated Andrade puts his WBO middleweight championship on the line against Britain's Williams on Saturday night in Florida.

Eubank Jr returns to action against Marcus Morrison on May 1, live on Sky Sports Box Office, alongside Derek Chisora vs Joseph Parker and Katie Taylor vs Natasha Jonas.

"Williams vs Andrade is a great fight. If Williams wins that, he's a character," Eubank Jr's promoter Sauerland told Sky Sports.

"I'd love to promote that because the build-up would be naughty!

"There are lots of options out there."

Eubank Jr has previously hoped to face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, who will fight Billy Joe Saunders in a world super-middleweight title unification fight on May 8.

Sauerland insists that Eubank Jr is serious about facing Canelo: "100 per cent he believes that. Eubank Jr is coming into his prime now.

"He's had the big stage, we've seen tactical mistakes that he's made in the Billy Joe Saunders fight and arguably in the George Groves fight.

"We've seen his success against James DeGale.

"I'd like him to be at 160lbs - the man to beat is Gennadiy Golovkin, he's the one, the one we'd love to make."

Eubank Jr told Sky Sports last year about Golovkin: "I know I can beat him. I know that I have the tools and the style to take this guy out.

"My speed, my tenacity? I don't think he would be able to deal with it.

"Because of my style, I would stop him due to the pure amount of punches. Whether it's a cut or he gets tired, stopping him would definitely be on the cards."

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/new...alle-sauerland

[Master]

Demetrius Andrade v Liam Williams: Welshman ready for 'life-changing' world title shot

Liam Williams says his "mind-blowing" shot at WBO world middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade can change his life if he can secure an upset win.

The Welshman, 28, faces undefeated American Andrade, 33, in Hollywood, Florida, on Saturday night.

Williams has won seven successive fights since back-to-back losses to Liam Smith in 2017 to earn his chance.

"I believe this is my time, I am coming away with that belt," Williams told the 5 Live Boxing Podcast.

Mandatory challenger Williams is an underdog against Andrade, who has claimed titles in two weight divisions, but says he is fully confident he will win and become Wales' 13th world champion.

"This is a big chance I need to grab with both hands and I am going to, you are going to see an impressive performance from me on Saturday," Williams said.

"I feel like most of the country [Wales] is behind me. You do get one or two haters, but the majority are behind me and have been following my journey back from the setbacks and stuff and a lot of them appreciate how hard I have worked, and how much time and effort I have put into it.

"Sometimes I have to sit back and pinch myself. I was a young kid watching people like myself do this kind of thing and I was amazed by it.

"So to be here here now, making everyone proud, making the country proud, it is unbelievable. It is mind-blowing, to be honest with you.

"If I win this I'll be a massive star in Wales and in Britain. I'm just very excited, it's a big opportunity and for me to win this it's going to be life-changing for me."

[IMG][/IMG]

Williams' route to the world stage has not been an easy one, with his journey filled with more troughs than peaks.

In 2014, following hand surgery that had not fixed a problem Williams was suffering with, he was told he would have to retire. He was 22. His then trainer, Gary Lockett, told him to seek a second opinion.

"I had another operation and I've never looked back," Williams said.

However, the next years were anything but easy.

He suffered back-to-back losses to Smith in 2017, the first after suffering a horrendous cut, the second on a majority decision in a contest many feel Williams won.

However, those losses were nothing compared to what he endured the year before.

Williams was present when his close friend and stablemate at the time, Nick Blackwell, was put into an induced coma after a loss to Chris Eubank Jr in April 2016.

He was also at ringside six months later to support another stablemate, Dale Evans, in a fight in Glasgow that saw Evans' opponent Mike Towell suffer a brain injury that resulted in his death.

"It's unusual for one terrible incident like this to happen in your career," Williams told BBC Sport Wales. "But to happen twice and with the second happening six months later? It was horrible and it really got to me."

Williams sought a fresh start in 2018, splitting with friend and long-time trainer Lockett to link up with Dominic Ingle.

It means Williams has been dividing his time between Sheffield and Wales for the past three years, missing time with his fiancee and daughter, but his results since - with seven straight wins - have spoken volumes.

Williams feels his time has arrived, even after enduring a year-long wait for this fight because of Covid-19 restrictions.

"I respect Andrade. He has to be respected for what he has done - he has achieved a lot," he added.

"But he doesn't want to fight me. I'm a mandatory challenger, he wants the bigger names. This is great timing for me.

"I have prepared long and hard. I couldn't be any more prepared. Now is my time."

Andrade, a world champion at light-middleweight and middleweight who has won all 29 of his fights, including last time out against Luke Keeler, has been clear that he is unimpressed with the calibre of his mandatory opponent - as evidenced by his exchange with BBC boxing pundit Steve Bunce.

"It's not who I wanted to fight, but here we go. I am here, this is what I have to do, put the bricks on him real quick and send him on his way," Andrade told the Costello and Bunce podcast.

Andrade, who has constantly belittled his opponent in the build-up and who says his next fight will be in WWE against Baron Corbin, says he has dismissed Williams' chances based on his career record.

"Everyone says he is a tough guy. Well I am the greatest in the world," Andrade added.

"I don't understand why people say he is tough. Why isn't he the champion? He lost twice against Liam Smith and how tough is Liam Smith?

"Why am I going to be afraid of a guy who couldn't beat Liam Smith?

"I'm not underestimating him, but he had two losses to Liam Smith and Liam Smith is not the toughest."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/56771906

[Beanz]

Is this the sticky then? Anyone watching the undercard right now?