Middleweight titleholder Demetrius Andrade and Liam Williams reportedly have entered talks for a fight as early as June.
Boxing fans are eager to see Demetrius Andrade test himself against his fellow top-tier middleweights, fighters like Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin. Instead, it appears he’ll defend his WBO title against Liam Williams.
Andrade and Williams, ranked No. 2 by the sanctioning body, reportedly have entered talks after the WBO ordered them to do so. They will have 30 days to reach an agreement or the promotion will go to a purse bid, according to BoxingScene.com.
The fight is expected to take place as early as June, possibly in Providence, Rhode Island, Andrade’s hometown.
Andrade (29-0, 23 KOs) won his title by outpointing Walter Kautondokwa in October 2018 and has successfully defended three times, but he has yet to face an elite 160-pounder.
The slick, athletic boxer is coming off a ninth-round TKO of Luke Keeler in January.
Williams (22-2-1, 17 KOs) has won six consecutive fights since he lost back-to-back bouts against Liam Smith in 2017. The Welshman knocked out Alantez Fox in five rounds in December.
“I want a world title shot without fail. If the right opportunity came, I would even move up to super middleweight,” Willliams told the BBC. “I feel like I am a world-title level fighter. I have a new lease of life, I have found my happiness again in the sport.”
Frank Warren, Williams’ promoter, confirmed that negotiations have begun.
“We are in negotiations, the fight will take place in the next 90-120 days,” Warren told the BBC. “Liam can win this fight, he can beat Andrade, I know he can.”
