By Jake Donovan

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Maciej Sulecki wasn’t short on confidence heading into his first career title fight, even if the pre-fight odds had the Polish middleweight as a considerable longshot.

His 12-round clash with unbeaten middleweight titlist Demetrius Andrade ultimately went to chalk, with Sulecki failing to win a single round in their DAZN headliner Saturday evening at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.

“He was too fast, very difficult to hit,” Sulecki (28-1, 11KOs) would offer through translator and internationally renowned boxing scribe Przemek Garczarczyk. “He was simply better.”

The bout marked Andrade’s first true hometown ring appearance as a pro, having previously fought throughout the New England area and elsewhere around the country (and world). It was the opposite feeling enjoyed by Sulecki, who was built up in his native Poland and where he’s long ago established a fan base that’s always willing to travel whenever he is forced to hit the road.

Saturday’s contest was his third big fight in his opponent’s true hometown, two of which have now resulted in his lone career defeats. He dropped a competitive but clear decision to Daniel Jacobs last April in Brooklyn, New York and just this past March traded knockdowns with Gabriel Rosado in eking out a majority decision on the road in Philadelphia, Penn.

Andrade (28-0, 17KOs) proved to be a different breed of boxer altogether. The unbeaten southpaw—who served on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team and has won three titles in two weight divisions as a pro—floored Sulecki in the opening round and barely lost a second of the fight. A stoppage seemed imminent early on, but instead evolved into a thoroughly dominant performance by the defending titlist in a career filled with such moments. 

“My game plan just crashed and burned,” admits Sulecki. “After the opening round, I had no idea how to deal with him.

“But I will not give up. I will bounce back from this.” 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox