“Boo Boo got so much talent.. one of the most athletic fighters I’ve seen in person.”

Haney’s view is important comes from having seen Andrade train. He has shared the gym with Andrade over the years. Rather than commenting on a highlight clip alone, he was referring to firsthand experience training alongside the unbeaten southpaw.

Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) returns on July 24 against super middleweight Douglas Ataide in Uncasville, Connecticut, at the Mohegan Sun Arena. It’ll be Andrade’s first fight since his sixth-round stoppage loss to David Benavidez in November 2023. Before that defeat, Andrade had built an undefeated record while capturing world titles at junior middleweight and middleweight, though many boxing fans felt he never landed the marquee fights his talent deserved.

The 38-year-old now has an opportunity to show he can still compete at a high level after nearly three years away from the ring. His comeback will also answer questions about how much the Benavidez loss and lengthy layoff have affected him.

There was never any doubt about Andrade’s natural ability with Haney. Calling him “one of the most athletic fighters” he has seen in person is notable praise coming from a fighter who has spent countless hours sparring elite-level professionals throughout his career.