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The Brothers
 by Thomas Gerbasi (April 14, 2003)
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Librado Andrade remembers it like yesterday. His older brother, one of
seven Andrade children, used to take him and younger brother Enrique to the
fights to see Julio Cesar Chavez, the patron saint of Mexican boxing. It
was a rite of passage for many young men from Leon Guanajuato, but a select
few took it a bit more seriously.
"He used to go because he liked to party," said Andrade of his older
brother. "But we would pay attention to the fights."
They took their love of the sport to the gym when the family relocated to La
Habra, California. Librado was 11, Enrique was 9, and they fought for the
love of it, something they've carried with them today.
This week, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium, a shrine for West Coast boxers,
the unbeaten super middleweights are back in action, opening up the show
against limited opposition for their more highly touted stablemates - Jose
Navarro and Mike Anchondo - who will get their bouts televised on HBO Latino
's 'Boxeo De Oro'.
But there's no bitterness from either brother; in fact, when you talk to
them there's a laid back ease to their manner that is in stark contrast to
their aggressive in the ring manner. But outside, they're happy to be here;
happy to be affiliated with Oscar De La Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions,
and happy to be in position to one day get a chance to break through and get
a shot at a title.
And it's always been that way. They've been able to operate without the
enormous pressure usually placed upon the shoulders of young fighters, free
to take their time and learn their craft before being placed on the world
stage. It's paid off to the tune of 28 combined victories without a loss,
and it's a success that grew out of early failure - failure that would have
crippled the hopes of most aspiring boxers.
"We did real poor in the amateurs," laughs Librado, the laugh of a
24-year-old that can look back on a negative past with a positive
bemusement. And he's not kidding, having fought 15 amateur bouts and lost
10. Enrique matched his less than stellar amateur record, and as the two
approached high school, their trainer, Dave Martinez, told them they needed
to take a break.
"I told them to take a hiatus, take 2-3 years off and enjoy high school,"
said Martinez. "If you want to continue in boxing or whatever, there's a
time and place for that."
He probably didn't expect them back, but when the brothers left the gym,
they followed their coach's instructions. Both took advantage of everything
high school had to offer, with Enrique playing football and taking home a
state championship as a wrestler, and Librado wrestling for the school team.
After graduation, Enrique considered college, but then decided to enter the
work force instead, joining his brother at a local Jack in the Box. It was
around that time that they decided to pay Martinez another visit at the gym.
For the trio, who remains together to this day, the rest is history.
Martinez' initial thoughts that the brothers' amateur failures were due to
their pro style were well founded, and the two have made a quick mark on the
local boxing scene.
They got the attention of De La Hoya, who, hoping they follow in the
footsteps of other fighting brothers of Mexico like Gabriel and Rafael
Ruelas and Juan Manuel and Rafael Marquez, signed them for his company and
is effusive in his praise of their potential.
"The brothers are very, very explosive, exciting fighters," said 'The Golden
Boy'. "They hit hard and they're always in great shape to throw a thousand
punches on any given day. These guys are always training and they're very
dedicated. They're undefeated and whomever they fight, I can assure you,
they will make it an exciting fight."
And like brothers, they have a unique dynamic, complimenting each other in
temperament and style.
Enrique (14-0, 8 KOs) is the more laid back of the two, optimistic yet
non-committal about his future in the sport, though many feel he is the
stronger prospect of the two, having been a sparring partner for De La Hoya
(who was preparing for Fernando Vargas) and nabbing a WBC Youth super
middleweight title.
But Librado (14-0, 10 KOs), two years older, knows that a world title will
lead not only to fame, but also to the financial security that will enable
the two of them to escape their day jobs.
Until then, the two toil away, working full-time (Librado at Jack in the
Box, Enrique at U-Haul), raising families (both are married, with Enrique
and his wife expecting twins), and training at night. It's the type of
schedule that will either kill your spirit or make you stronger. The
Andrade brothers have chosen the latter.
"It is pretty hard because sometimes we come to the gym and we're pretty
tired," said Enrique. But they do it, and it's that toughness that
separates them from their peers. Knowing what it's like to actually work
for a living is a lot different from being a coddled athlete who has been
walked through life due to superior skills or connections. And like
everything worth taking a risk for, it comes with a price.
"Right now, we mostly depend on our jobs," said Librado. "Then there will
be times when we depend on our boxing, so it's kind of tough keeping a job
and keeping boxing. You're trying to be good at your job but you can't grow
at your job because it requires more time out of you, which you can't give
because of boxing."
They're mature young men - polite, focused, and real in a city of plastic.
That's where the similarities end. Librado attacks, Enrique counterpunches.
Enrique is a dreamer, Librado a realist. Or is it vice versa? Yet wherever
their ring journey takes them, they're brothers, and this dirty business
will never take that away from them.
"To each other, we're like fuel," said Librado. "He's my fuel, I'm his
fuel."
And like a big brother is supposed to, he looks out for his sibling, telling
Enrique, "Whatever happens to us, you have to go on and carry on what we
believe. If I fall behind, I'll catch up. And if you do the same, don't
look back and you'll catch up."
E-Mail Thomas Gerbasi at tgerbasi@mindspring.com
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