Steven Andrade is hoping to add to his ring titles this weekend at the Georgia Games in Doraville.
SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News
Steven Andrade, 24, was chosen to compete at the games, which will be held Sunday in Doraville, according to David "Peanut" Willis, who trained Andrade the past five years through the Cartersville Art of Boxing program.
Willis said Andrade, the defending Novice Division winner at the Games, will weigh-in at noon Saturday and then begin competing against boxers from Georgia and across the Southeast.
Andrade, who trains in Cartersville, competes in the 141-152 pound Open Division.
Andrade said he expects a battle at the games but feels he's in shape because of his training.
"I run 6 miles every other day," he said.
He said he also stays in shape through his diet and uses both to stay in his weight division.
"I've missed it by two pounds before," he said.
Andrade said he brought his weight down from 165 pounds and works to keep it down: "I eat better than I used to and I exercise a lot."
Willis said competitors at the Georgia Games must focus on winning each fight to advance.
Andrade, who sports a 9-2 record as an amateur, is a right-hander who has competed the past three years.
Willis said Andrade was selected based on his boxing performances the past year around the state.
"When you win your division as a novice, you are moved up automatically," he added.
Willis not only has trained the Cartersville boxer, but he also serves as his corner man during fights.
He said the two met because Andrade saw Willis at his gym several years ago and expressed an interest in becoming a boxer.
"I saw a cigarette in his hand and told him, 'You'll have to get rid of that,'" Willis recalled. "That's the last time I saw him smoke."
He said Andrade, who attended Cartersville High but was born in Atlanta, puts the time in the ring necessary to be a success.
"He's one of those who just stuck with it," Willis said.
Andrade said while he has worked hard at boxing, his motivation is only partially due to watching Willis.
"My brother, Joseph Williams, kinda beat me up some when I was younger," he said, "so I took it up because of him."
He said Williams was younger, bigger and didn't smoke.
"He's my little big brother," he laughed.
Andrade added he gave up smoking to become a boxer but said that wasn't as difficult as the conditioning regimen he undergoes for the sport.
"It's really hard," he said.
He said he will give his all in the ring this weekend, where he hopes to win four bouts -- up to three rounds each with each round up to three minutes in length.