Any concern about inactivity disappeared once Andrade found his target.
Midway through the round, the southpaw clipped Ataide with a sharp left before firing a right that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. Referee Ricky Gonzalez completed the count at 2:09 as Ataide remained down following the clean knockout.
Andrade’s performance lasted only one round, but it showed the speed, timing and accuracy that carried him to world titles at junior middleweight and middleweight. He wasted little time taking control, landing the first meaningful punch of the fight before ending matters with a single finishing sequence.
Ataide entered as a durable opponent whose role was to test Andrade after the lengthy layoff. Instead, he never had an opportunity to settle into the fight.
The quick finish gives Andrade a successful return after one of the longest absences of his professional career. His previous appearance came in November 2023, when David Benavidez stopped him in six rounds. Friday’s outing served a different purpose, allowing Andrade to shake off inactivity without absorbing punishment or needing extended rounds.
The larger question now is where Andrade goes from here.
One first-round knockout over a limited opponent does not answer how he would perform against the elite names at 168 pounds, but it does put him back into the conversation after years on the sidelines. For a fighter who built his reputation on slick boxing skills and awkward movement, the explosive finish also served as a reminder that he still carries enough power to end a fight with a single combination.
