WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade has landed himself in hot water.
The 30-year-old titleholder was pulled over by police in Providence, Rhode Island and authorities found a Glock 19 pistol in Andrade’s bag. Although Andrade explained that he carries a gun as a result of his fame and fear of getting robbed, the gun was not registered.
According to the Providence Journal, two officers were driving around 2:30 a.m. ET. when they found Andrade stopped in his Mercedes, blocking traffic while talking to a friend in another Mercedes. Andrade was questioned by officers and would eventually search Andrade's bag which would contain the gun and 10 rounds of ammunition. Andrade would be charged with one count of possession of a firearm without a license which is a felony. The middleweight titleholder was arraigned December 6 in District Court and released on bail.
Providence Police detective Maj. David Lapatin spoke to the Providence Journal on the matter, saying that it is inexcusable to carry around an unregistered firearm.
“There’s no excuse for carrying a gun without a permit. Whether you claim you’re transporting large amounts of money, or your life is in danger, you can make your case to get a permit [to carry a concealed weapon]. But you cannot obtain a gun and carry it in the city of Providence without one,” Lapatin said.
Andrade won the WBO title when he defeated Walter Kautondokwa by unanimous decision in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card in Boston. Andrade was originally supposed to face Billy Joe Saunders, but Saunders failed a drug test and eventually surrendered the title as he was not given a license to box in the state of Massachusetts.
