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Pressure free Luke Keeler ready to upset Demetruis Andrade and bounce with the WBO world title

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Pressure free Luke Keeler [17(5)-2(1)-1] is ready to bounce in to the ring before bouncing with the WBO world middleweight title that is currently in the possession of Demetrius Andrade [28(17)-0].

The Dubliner has secured a shot at the two division titlist and will challenge for his 160lbs strap on a big Miami show come January 30 and Super Bowl weekend.

The Ballyfermot fighter goes into the DAZN and Sky Sports broadcast clash as a massive underdog and admits there is a ‘surreal’ element to him reaching the top table of a stacked middleweight division.

However, he takes comfort in the fact both mean he enters the clash without a single ‘drop of pressure’ and is confident he call pull off an upset to win a belt once held by Dublin’s Steve Collins and more recently Limerick’s Andy Lee.

“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,” said Keeler when the fight was announced in the early hours of Friday morning.

“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,” he adds before doubling down on the pressure free nature of the clash.

“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.”

The Pete Taylor trained Irish champion is aware he has earned a life changing opportunity and it’s one he is determined to take.

Indeed, the 32-year-old, who is most likely receiving a purse that would dwarf any fight fee has received to date, claims he would have fought for free just to get the chance to win a world title and what comes with that.

“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,” stated Keeler.

“It puts me right up there for fights with Gennadiy Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez.”

Keeler earned his ranking with WBO European title victory over Conrad Cummings and earned his shot with a career best display against Luis Arias in Belfast in August.

However, his story goes much deeper than that. The Ballyfermot man was never one of the big amateur names and started his pro career as a respected but unheralded prospect.

He blended college and full time job with boxing for many years and has only been a full time pro for two years.

The popular middle has also had to bounce back from two defeats to Tom Doran, one suffered in Prizefighter and the other on what was meant to be his big break out night.

He has rebuild, improved massively and is now a deserving challenger, his rise testimony for hard work, dedication and self belief.

Andrade has had a whole different career path he is a 2007 World amateur champion and was a 2008 Olympian.

The high profile operator is unbeaten as a pro and has won world titles in at two weights.

The 31-year-old Matchroom USA fighter has been calling for fights with Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin in recent times to no avail.

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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