(June 5th) One of the greatest world champions to come out of Rhode Island is back.

Former two-division world champion Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) will make his highly anticipated return to the ring on Friday, July 24, headlining CES Boxing's Championship Jackpot 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The event marks Andrade's first bout under a new partnership with CES Boxing, bringing together one of the most accomplished fighters ever produced by Rhode Island and the state's most successful boxing promoter.

Tickets for CES Boxing’s Championship Jackpot 2026 are on sale now at Cesfights.com.  Doors open at 5pm with the first bout scheduled for 6pm.

A native of Providence, Andrade enjoyed one of the most decorated amateur careers in American boxing history before turning professional in 2008.  His amateur accomplishments culminated with representing the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where he competed against the world's best fighters after capturing numerous national and international titles.

As a professional, Andrade quickly established himself as one of boxing's elite talents.  In 2013, he captured his first world championship by defeating fellow unbeaten contender Vanes Martirosyan for the vacant WBO Super Welterweight World Championship.

After dominating the 154-pound division, Andrade moved up to middleweight in 2017 and captured a second world title one year later, delivering a masterful 12-round shutout of the previously unbeaten Walter Kautondokwa to win the vacant WBO Middleweight World Championship before a passionate New England crowd at Boston's TD Garden.

Andrade successfully defended his middleweight crown five times, cementing his status as one of boxing's premier champions before moving up to the super middleweight division in 2023.  The July 24 showdown will mark his first appearance since November of that year.

"Demetrius Andrade is one of the greatest fighters ever to come out of New England and one of the most accomplished athletes Rhode Island has ever produced," said CES Boxing Founder and President Jimmy Burchfield Sr. "This is a special moment for CES Boxing and for boxing fans throughout the region. We're proud to partner with Demetrius and help launch the next chapter of his remarkable career."

The main event will be supported by an explosive undercard featuring many of Connecticut's top rising stars.

In a battle of unbeaten middleweight prospects, Stamford's Douglas "El Uno" Marroquin (10-0, 6 KOs) faces fellow undefeated Connecticut standout Daine Smikle (4-0, 1 KO) in a matchup with significant implications for the state's thriving middleweight scene.

Also in action, Stamford light heavyweight Slawomir "Heavy Hitter" Bohdziewicz (7-1, 6 KOs) returns looking to rebound from the lone defeat of his professional career when he squares off against hard-hitting Russ Kimber of Peabody, Massachusetts.

Several of Connecticut's most exciting young prospects are also in action, including Stratford's Joseph "J-Elite" Chisholm (7-1, 6 KOs), Branford's Gianni Liguori (5-0-1, 4 KOs), New Haven's Carlos Perez (6-0, 1 KO) and Hamden's Anthony Nieves (2-0, 1 KO).

ABOUT CES BOXING

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the East Coast.  Founded in 1992 by Jimmy Burchfield Sr., CES Boxing has promoted many world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, Chad Dawson and Ray Oliveira. CES Boxing has promoted such super fights as "The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones Jr.", "Mayweather vs. Gotti III" and "The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton".

ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for "Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America."  Mohegan Sun Arena was also named "Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year" at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide "#1 Indoor Arena" ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow.  In recent years, the "Most Beloved Venue in America" has also been named the "World’s Best Casino Venue," by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for "Arena of the Year" by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit theMohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.