Despite a controversial stoppage, Demetrius Andrade dominates Artur Akavov inside MSG

Demetrius Andrade wanted to prove himself to the world via DAZN, in an attempt to show that he was ready for the likes of Daniel Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin. While he didn’t necessarily do that, he was able to show a taste of what he can be.

Inside Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater, Andrade (27-0) defeated Artur Avakov via TKO after 12 rounds. He retained his WBO World Middleweight Title and kept his undefeated streak. The fight could have gone the whole way, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. decided that a vicious body shot Avakov took was too much to go on. The fight ended with 2:36 left in the final round.

“I felt great, I displayed skills and how to use a hell of a jab for 12 rounds, baby,” Andrade stated.”That’s it. I did what I had to do. I looked beautiful, I came out tall, black and handsome and I’m still. I look forward to getting in there with the best. Akavov moved, he used the ring real well. I wasn’t trying to force anything. The jab was working beautiful all night. At the end of the day, you put GGG in front of me and I am going to destroy him”

Cruising through the first few rounds, Andrade was on the attack throughout the majority of the fight. Andrade’s deadly jab was in play all night. After a few stiff body shots, it appeared that he would pull away with the victory. Akavov did not submit easily, however, and continued to push forward. At one point having a cut above his eye, Akavov encouraged “Boo Boo” to come forward, but couldn’t quite keep up with Andrade.

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Andrade would have won via unanimous decision of it wasn’t for the referee determining the fight. Akavov was furious at the fact, even though the end result was inevitable. All three judges gave Akavov round nine, with one judge actually giving him two rounds. It was a massacre of stylistic proportion.

Andrade may not have had a sexy fight, but it was one that proved he can perform under certain periods of time. One of his biggest goals is to fight often and win more titles. The first part comes into play after only fighting once in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Fighting twice in about three months will do the trick.

Andrade may not be ready for the likes of Daniel Jacobs, GGG and Canelo, but he could be ready for the top 15, or those that the aforementioned names have faced. Eddie Hearn stated that Andrade will be taking time off before the next fight. Perhaps someone will finally be able to keep up with him. At that point, Andrade will hopefully find his literal and figurative knockout ticket to the top.