Did Demetrius Andrade just duck Zach Parker?

Source: Queensberry Promotions

16/01/2022

Did Demetrius Andrade just duck Zach Parker?

Zach Parker, a British super middleweight believes he has WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade running scared after [Parker says] Andrade ducked out of a chance to move up in weight and fight for the WBO interim title at 168 pounds.  Parker is the WBO #1 contender for title held by the division’s undisputed world champion Canelo Alvarez. The WBO offered the unbeaten Parker to face Andrade for their interim title while Alvarez decides if he wants to move up in weight, but [according to Parker's promoter, Queensberry Promotions,] last week the American decided against facing Parker. Andrade says he’ll keep his WBO Middleweight World championship instead of facing the fast emerging British star who has knocked out his last five opponents.
 
“People call him the bogeyman, but I must be the problem in the way. I don’t think he fancies it,” said Parker who is lined up to box in hometown of Derby, England for the first time in his professional career on April 23rd. Parker told The Lowdown: “Hopefully I will push on and fight for the interim title next. From what I gather, Andrade said he doesn’t really fancy it and will stay at middleweight. He is a really good fighter... undefeated and doesn’t know how to lose. But, he would be coming up to super middleweight which is a lot bigger than middleweight. These middleweights feel the difference in power when they step up.
 
Parker continued,  “It would be a really good fight and if that came around I would be more than willing to take it and hopefully we could get it in Britain. I think he will stay at middleweight. People don’t like switch hitting and I hit hard with both hands. It scares people off. Andrade probably thought he would come up and go straight into the fight with Canelo, but the WBO say we have to fight first. It’s good work by [Queensberry's] Frank Warren who is fighting my case saying I should be next for Canelo. I’m open to boxing anyone. People should be wanting to box me now I am [WBO] mandatory for Canelo.”
 
Promoter Warren and Parker’s manager Neil Marsh hope that their man will eventually headline a world title fight card at Pride Park. One possible future domestic opponent at Derby County’s magnificent stadium is [middleweght] Chris Eubank Jr, a fight Zach is often asked about by his fans. Parker, 27,  says: “Everyone wants me to get my hands on him. That would be a good fight. This is going to be my year whoever I fight. I am coming with the smoke.”