Speaking about his future plans, Andrade named several of the division’s top contenders and champions as potential targets.
“I think the fighters that need to be, the fights that need to happen, it’s like, you know, again, me, Charlo, me, Berlanga, me, Mbilli, me, Plant,” Andrade told YSM Sports Media. “These are all great fights that could happen, and we’re all in the same age group and all the same era of boxing, so it’s like, why not make it happen?”
Plant, Berlanga and Mbilli are looking for title opportunities, while a fight between Andrade and Jermall Charlo never materialized during their championship years.
Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) has not fought since his sixth-round stoppage loss to David Benavidez in November 2023 and will return from a nearly three-year layoff. The 38-year-old former champion has not scored a high-profile victory in recent years and has yet to announce an opponent for his return on July 24 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“I believe that the 68s are open,” Andrade said. “Boxing needs me back in the ring because there are big fights to be made.”
The return comes after a difficult time for Andrade. He has not fought since suffering a sixth-round stoppage loss to David Benavidez in November 2023. Before that loss, his most recent win came against Demond Nicholson in January 2023.
Although Andrade spent years pursuing fights against names like Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin and the Charlo brothers, none of those matches materialized during his first years as a champion at 154 and 160 pounds.
Now 38 years old and back from a long layoff, Andrade is trying to rebuild himself in a division that includes WBC champion Christian Mbilli, former titleholder Caleb Plant and contender Edgar Berlanga.
Andrade’s immediate focus is ending his inactivity and positioning himself for the fights he believes should have happened years ago.
“My goal is to be a three-division world champion. 154, 160, and then 168,” Andrade said.
