Boxing is a sport that is known for the clashes of the most potent fighters. It has a rich history of the most vicious battles between equally strong opponents. However, David Benavidez has not spent a huge chunk of his career facing befitting opponents in the super middleweight division. The 26-year-old’s desire has always been to take on the top fighters in his division. Finally, circumstances are aligning for him.
This year has been in his favor and how. His first fight of an elite nature came against Caleb Plant. The first of his career. Having secured that victory, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is now on the cusp of another major showdown.
The clash of David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade
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ESPN’s Mike Coppinger has hinted that Benavidez is currently in negotiations with Demetrius Andrade. It seems like they’re coming through. Andrade, a former two-division champion, is known for his tricky tactics and skillful angles. However, there are plenty of parallels that Benavidez can draw between Andrade and his previous opponent, Plant.
“I feel like he’s the same type of fighter,” Benavidez stated while drawing comparisons between Andrade and Plant, in a conversation with BoxingScene.com.
Andrade doesn’t often find himself in elite matchups. Throughout his career, he has felt overlooked. His previous attempts at calling out fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Gennadiy Golovkin, and Jermall Charlo have all been in vain. These challenges yielded little result. This approach did, however, result in world titles across two divisions. But his opponents’ quality has been criticized. Facing Benavidez could change that perception for good.
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Benavidez acknowledges the undefeated former champion Andrade as a worthy contender. The bout will not be an easy win for him, and there is pressure on him to perform like never before. It is a total paradigm shift for the fighter as he embarks on this new journey.
Benavidez confidently predicts that his strength will prove decisive. He further estimated that by the mid-rounds, he will totally take control of the fight and dominate it to emerge victorious. He said, “I feel like I’m just too strong. Once we get to the middle rounds I took over and I see the same thing happening in this fight.”
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There are interesting similarities that are being drawn between his last match and the one that is slated to take its course. However, Benavidez does anticipate a tough fight from Andrade. But he rests assured that he will dominate in the later rounds. As we await more details to drop in for this next big clash, reports have emerged that it is a fight for the month of November.
Who do you think should be Benavidez’s next big opponent? Let us know in the comments section below.
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