WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler lands world title shot
In the main event of the evening in Miami on January 30, undefeated middleweight star Demetrius Andrade (28-0, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO World Middleweight championship against top contender Luke Keeler (17-2-1, 5 KOs) on a Matchroom Boxing USA event.
Middleweight world titleholder Demetrius Andrade was considered as an opponent for four-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez but didn't manage to get the lucrative fight. He would have also liked a unification with Jermall Charlo, but despite the to and fro and public spats between the two, that also did not materialise.
Unable to land a big fight, mainly because he represents a very high risk with only a modest financial reward, 'Boo Boo' will instead defend his title against two-time WBO European middleweight champion Luke Keeler in the main event of a world title tripleheader.
32 from Ireland, Keeler has lost two fights during his approaching seven-year career, both times to the same person – Tom Doran. The first defeat was in the semi-final of a Prizefighter tournament in 2015, the second was a scheduled 10-round championship contest for the WBC International middleweight title which ended in the second round after both fighters were down in the first.
He has since been on an eight-fight unbeaten run, collecting Celtic and Ireland titles, as well as claiming the WBO European belt on two seperate occasions, earning him the No.3 position in the WBO rankings.
The Dubliner, who enters the fight as the underdog, is fully aware of his status going into the world championship contest.
He admitted, "Demetrius is a great fighter, and I understand I'll be written off as a huge underdog, but it's exactly how I like it. There isn't a drop of pressure on me.
"It feels surreal in a way but at the same time, I've always visualized it so in a way I expected this opportunity to come. Again, there is no pressure on me at all. I'll have nerves like every fight, but I'm going to enjoy every moment, bounce to the ring and pull off the upset.
"It's a life changing fight, and winning brings life-changing paydays, but I would've taken this fight for free to be in the position that comes with winning. It puts me right up there for fights with Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez."
Also featured on the packed evening of boxing is Tevin Farmer (30-4-1, 6 KOs) defending his IBF world super featherweight title against JoJo Diaz (30-1, 15 KOs), and unified world super bantamweight champion Daniel Roman (27-2-1, 10 KOs) defending his titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev (7-0, 6 KOs).
DAZN presents Miami Fight Night, brought to you by Matchroom Boxing USA will be held at Meridian at Island Gardens. Meridian is a 65,000 square-foot custom built multi-level premier live event and entertainment experience that will play host to additional VIP events. DAZN and Matchroom Boxing USA will kick off the big week at Meridian as the first of three nights of entertainment leading into Sunday.
Unbeaten female star Avril Mathie (4-0-1, 2 KOs) will have the chance to showcase her skills in front of her hometown supporters after she was added to the stacked event.
The rumored grudge match between YouTube stars Jake “The Problem Child” Paul and AnEsonGib is finally official and will take center stage as the co-main event of the huge night of boxing.
“January 30 in Miami just became a whole lot bigger,” said Eddie Hearn, President, Matchroom Boxing USA. “After the huge success of KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 which broke broadcast numbers Worldwide and also got nominated as Ring Magazine ‘Event of the Year,’ I’m delighted to add Jake Paul vs. Gib to our World Championship tripleheader on Super Bowl weekend in Miami, live on DAZN. Ever since the last event, people have been sliding into my DMs from all around the World to make this fight so hopefully now I will get some rest at Christmas! Same rules apply, 10-ounce gloves, no headguards and both going through the full professional protocol. It’s USA vs. UK one again! Los Angeles was wild, I have a feeling Miami will be next level.”