In Las Vegas, NV, interim WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) demonstrated that he is a force to be reckoned with. Demetrius Andrade had a strategy, but he was unable to execute it. Initially, Andrade put up a strong fight, challenging Benavidez in the first three rounds. However, Benavidez shifted the momentum in the fourth round, sending Andrade to the canvas. Subsequently, Andrade appeared to be in survival mode, attempting to weather the storm by any means necessary.
Seeing Andrade’s struggle, the referee decided to end the match in the 6th round, with Benavidez winning by technical knockout. Andrade’s attempt to claim a three-division title was thwarted due to his inability to withstand the punishment. He seemed to be troubled by Benavidez’s power and failed to maintain his tactical strategy. Benavidez’s Compubox statistics reflected his effective and efficient attack, with a 35% connection rate on total punches (117 of 336) and a 39% connection rate on power punches (102 of 264).
Benavidez’s victory over a two-division champion with an Olympic background solidified his status as an elite boxer, worthy of challenging undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs). Following the fight, Benavidez engaged the crowd, asking if they wanted to see him face Canelo, eliciting an enthusiastic response.
A potential Canelo vs. Benavidez bout is expected to be a major event in boxing and is likely to generate significant pay-per-view numbers. There are speculations about Canelo facing Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs) in May, leaving the possibility of a Canelo vs. Benavidez showdown open until September.
Benavidez’s performance showed significant improvement from his previous fight against Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 KOs), where he struggled with lateral movement. While the match started evenly, Benavidez made the necessary adjustments and punished his opponent. In a post-fight press conference, Benavidez revealed that he had deliberately started slow, anticipating Andrade’s traps, and countered by using a double right hand jab to disrupt the rhythm.
Undoubtedly, Benavidez has proven himself to be a much better boxer than he is often given credit for, positioning himself among the sport’s elite after this impressive performance. The ultimate test awaits in a potential match against Canelo Alvarez. As an alternative, Benavidez is prepared to move up to 175 pounds to challenge WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs).
“`
