Super Middleweight boxing is run by Canelo Alvarez but David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade are squaring off for their right to fight the champion in this one.
David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade have their sights set on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez with the winner of this one set to take on the superstar Mexican.
Everybody in the super middleweight division is in the shadow of the undisputed champion, Alvarez. Still, it’s a division stacked with talent and two of the best will go head-to-head at the Michelob ULTRA Arean in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Both are undefeated but the 26-year-old Benavidez is the defending WBC interim title holder and $1.30 favourite. At 35 years old, Andrade is the aging fighter in the twilight of his career looking to land his biggest-ever fight should he cause an upset as a $3.75 underdog.
David Benavidez
Age: 26
Height: 188cm
Reach: 189cm
Record: 27-0-0, 23 KOs
Benavidez has been here and done it all before in boxing as a two-time former WBC super middleweight champion. However, both titles were stripped. He first tested positive for cocaine in 2018 before regaining his title and missing weight ahead of his fight with Roamer Alexis Angulo in 2020.
Nonetheless, he’s coming off an impressive win over Caleb Plant. One that should translate well into this opponent, too.
Plant looked like he was getting to Benavidez throughout the early rounds but a lot of his work was ineffective and unable to get through the guard. Benavidez didn’t take any risks early but started to take control of the fight in the 3rd round before leaving Plant bloodied by the end of the unanimous decision victory.
Benavidez is a warrior. He constantly stares and smiles down his opponents and embraces the tougher and more dangerous exchanges of a fight. With the power to finish and defensive skill to last, he weakens the other man over time and has done so to win all 27 of his fights to date.
Demetrius Andrade
Age: 35
Height: 183cm
Reach: 187cm
Record: 32-0-0, 19 KOs
Like Benavidez, Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade is also an undefeated two-time world champion. However, his titles came at junior middleweight and middleweight.
The knock on Andrade is that he doesn’t always produce the most exciting fights. He’s a tinkerman and one of the most clever fighters in boxing. He can trust his technique and timing of his step-back left hand to win more often than not. Switching stances and using a precise jab to set things up.
He convincingly beat Demond Nicholson in his last fight. All three judges handed in cards reading 100-88 in favour of a dominant Nicholson win.
The concern might be that Andrade wasn’t able to finish Nicholson earlier. He is a strong defensive fighter and able to control the distance and avoid damage, but he has registered only 19 knockouts in his 32 professional boxing fights. It’s somewhat of a blemish on his otherwise impressive career.
David Benavidez v Demetrius Andrade Boxing Tips
Benavidez is a significant $1.30 favourite for a reason. He’s the bigger body, a more powerful puncher, and has the ability to end the fight at any moment with his work rate and knockout history. His work rate will be a big factor in this one. Slow to get into his fight against Plant, he’s up against a fast-starting Andrade here.
Andrade is going to try and fight at distance to take the fight the distance. He will look to evade the ropes where Benavidez can fire off his dangerous combinations. Ideally, he will bank early rounds – something he is typically good at – before using his fast feet to finish the job ($3.75 to win).
Benavidez has the size, work rate and power to counter Andrade’s more conservative approach, though. He’s a volume puncher. On paper, he’s taller with only a slightly longer reach. On the night, he’s going to look bigger than his opponent and more than likely carry a lot more weight. He’s used that size for an 85% knockout rate throughout his boxing career to date and has proven to have a capable chin.
While Andrade’s footwork will diminish some of Benavidez’s superior work rate, the heavy favourite has the power shot to compensate. With the expectation that Andrade fights as he typically does and looks to wear his opponent down, Benavidez will likely take a similar approach to that he did with Plant and ease himself in before winning it late.