Speaking about his future plans, Andrade named several of the division’s leading contenders and champions as potential targets.
“I think the fighters that need to be, the fights that need to happen, it’s like, you know, again, me, Charlo, me, Berlanga, me, Mbilli, me, Plant,” Andrade said to YSM Sports Media. “These are all great fights that can happen, and we’re all in the same age group and all the same era of boxing, so it’s like, why not make this happen?”
Plant, Berlanga, and Mbilli are pursuing title opportunities, while a fight between Andrade and Jermall Charlo never materialized during their championship years.
Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) has not fought since his sixth-round stoppage loss to David Benavidez in November 2023 and will be returning from a nearly three-year layoff. The 38-year-old former champion has not recorded a high-profile victory in recent years and has yet to announce an opponent for his July 24 comeback at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“I believe that the 68’s open,” Andrade said. “Boxing needs me back in the ring because there are great fights to be made.”
The comeback comes after a difficult stretch for Andrade. He has not fought since suffering a sixth-round stoppage loss to David Benavidez in November 2023. Prior to that defeat, his most recent victory came against Demond Nicholson in January 2023.
Although Andrade spent years pursuing fights against names such as Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin, and the Charlo brothers, none of those matchups materialized during his prime years as a champion at 154 and 160 pounds.
Now 38 years old and returning from a lengthy layoff, Andrade is attempting to reestablish himself in a division that includes WBC champion Christian Mbilli, former titleholder Caleb Plant, and contender Edgar Berlanga.
Andrade’s immediate focus is on ending his inactivity and positioning himself for the fights he believes should have happened years ago.
“My goal is to be a three-divisional world champion. 154, 160, and then 168,” Andrade said.
Read the full article here