2019 -- H 6129

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LC002672

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING PROVIDENCE NATIVE AND WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION

DEMETRIUS ANDRADE

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Mattiello, Shekarchi, Jackson, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: May 21, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Demetrius Andrade was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 26,

1988. He began his pugilistic training at the young age of six and quickly earned recognition for

his toughness, quick hands, and elite-level boxing skills. He also earned the nickname of "Boo

Boo" an endearing moniker that became as well-known as his given name; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Andrade had a sterling boxing career as an amateur. He won the 2005

United States Amateur Boxing Championship and repeated as champion in 2006. He also won the

National Gold Glove Championships in 2006 and 2007, won the Gold Medal at the 2007 World

Amateur Boxing Championships, and represented the United States at the 2008 Summer

Olympics in Beijing, China; and

     WHEREAS, Since turning professional in 2008, Mr. Andrade has compiled a perfect 27-

0 record. He accomplished this incredible feat by knocking out 17 of his opponents, and winning

ten bouts by decision. His professional career began auspiciously when he dispatched Patrick

Cape in a second-round knockout in his first professional fight. He went on to win his next

eighteen fights, mostly by knockouts or technical knockouts; and

     WHEREAS, In 2013, Mr. Andrade got his first shot at a title went he faced Armenian

fighter Vanes Martirosyan at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. In a tough, hard-hitting fight, he

fought back after being knocked down in the first round and used his superior boxing skills to win

a split decision and the WBO Light Middleweight Title; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Andrade would follow up his title win by easily dispatching British

challenger Brian Rose in his first title defense. He then faced Argentine Boxer Dario Rose

Pucheta at Mohegan Sun for the vacant WBO International Light Middleweight Title. In an

amazing show of boxing prowess, he knocked down his opponent, Dario, in the first round and

knocked him out in the second round with a devastating right hand punch; and

     WHEREAS, In an eliminator fight, Mr. Andrade met veteran contender Willie Nelson

and won a tough 12 round TKO in which he knocked down Nelson four times before the fight

was called in Andrade's favor. His next fight was against Jack Culcay for the WBA "Regular"

Light Middleweight Title. He won a split decision to become a two-time World Champion, with

most observers believing that he had clearly outperformed Mr. Culcay; and

     WHEREAS, In 2017, Mr. Andrade decided to fight as a Middleweight, with his first

opponent being the then-undefeated Alantez Fox. In a dominating performance, he easily

outpointed Alantez to win a unanimous decision and a shot at the vacant WBO Middleweight

Crown in 2018 against Walter Kautondokwa, who also entered this title fight with an undefeated

record. In arguably the best performance of his amazing career, Mr. Andrade thoroughly

dominated Mr. Kautondokwa at the TD Garden in Boston, knocking him down multiple times

early in the fight and cruising to a unanimous decision to win the WBO Middleweight Title; and

     WHEREAS, In his first title defense, held in New York City, Mr. Andrade dispatched

Artur Akavov in twelve rounds to win by TKO. He will be coming home to Rhode Island for his

next fight, and will face Maciej Sulecki at the Dunkin Donuts Center in front of what will

assuredly be a raucous hometown crowd rooting for a Providence champion to maintain his

middleweight title; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby honors Providence native and WBO Middleweight Boxing

Champion Demetrius Andrade, and wishes him continued success in his next title defense being

held at the Dunkin Donuts Center on June 29, 2019; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Demetrius Andrade.

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