Banner Promotions head honcho Artie Pellulo has exclusively informed WBN that two-weight world champion Demetrius Andrade is willing to act as a substitute for Canelo Alvarez.
Speaking from Philadelphia on Monday morning, an excited Pellulo outlined that Andrade is in the gym preparing for a date close to the Cinco de Mayo blockbuster.
According to the long-time promoter, should Canelo face a further suspension at an April 10 hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Andrade would be a ready-made replacement to battle Gennady Golovkin.
Demetrius Andrade open to GGG fight
“Absolutely, Demetrius Andrade would take that fight,” Pellulo exclusively confirmed to World Boxing News.
“Anyone who knows Andrade knows he’s always in the gym, and we have a date for him anyway on May 12.”
Asked whether he’d be willing to open talks with Tom Loeffler about putting a provision in place for Andrade to step in, Pellulo added: “Of course, I’ve already contacted Tom and told him Andrade is ready to fight Gennady on May 5.
“I saw WBN mention Andrade in their article, and Tom already knows we should take it.
“Andrade is number one with the WBO in the middleweight division. He’s undefeated and a two-weight world champion. He’s also only 30 and is a very, very good fighter.
“Danny Jacobs won’t fight Demetrius, Canelo won’t fight Demetrius, but Golovkin would absolutely fight Andrade because he’s a fighter.”
Whether he thought HBO would welcome Andrade as a stand-in for Canelo, Pellulo believes there would be no problem on that front.
“Nobody will have a problem with Andrade facing Golovkin because it’s a very good and intriguing fight. Andrade’s got the right style to make Gennady Golovkin have all kinds of problems.
“Demetrius Andrade can punch, he can box, he can do everything, and he can win that fight,” he predicted.
Pressed on a final verdict as to whether he thinks Canelo will be cleared to fight, Pellulo concluded: “If I had to guess, I’d say the fight goes forward, but I don’t know, I don’t know what’s going on.”
Phil Jay is the Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay.
