JOHANNESBURG – Promoter Rodney Berman is toying with the fascinating possibility of bringing newly-crowned WBA junior-middleweight champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade to South Africa to make his first title defence at Emperors Palace.
Banking on South Africans’ appetite for elite-level fighters, Berman says there is vast appeal for a big Showtime event that would incorporate all the bells and whistles of a typical American extravaganza.
He’s thinking big on account of his partnership with Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions, who has Andrade in his stable. The promoters spoke at length on the phone last week and Pelullo was intrigued by the possibility.
“We’re looking at June and see it as a great opportunity to showcase South Africa and Emperors Palace to an international audience,” said Berman.
Southpaw Andrade (24-0) won the title against Jack Culcay in Germany last weekend – no mean feat considering how fiendishly difficult it is to win there. A former holder of the WBO title, he has beaten top names like Brian Rose, Willie Nelson and Vanes Martirosyan.
The impressive new MGM Grand in Washington DC is the venue for Banner Promotions’ next show on April 14.
Berman added the event will feature Kevin Lerena and Xolisani Ndongeni. It will be just the second tournament at the venue after Vasyl Lomachenko’s next title defence, which takes place there the week before.