LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez was 19 years old the last time he encountered a southpaw in an official fight.
Demetrius Andrade is not an ordinary left-handed opponent, either, but Benavidez feels completely comfortable as their 12-round super middleweight title fight nears. Unlike many orthodox boxers, the right-handed Benavidez has never had all that much difficulty when he opposes southpaws.
“To be honest with you, I don’t have a problem with southpaws,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com. “I feel like they’re much easier than orthodox fighters. That’s just my opinion. I’ve got three sparring partners that are southpaws … and I’ve been having a lot of success. You know, I feel like I have more success with southpaws than orthodox fighters. So, I mean, it’s no problem to me. This is a style I’ve seen before. This is a style I’m preparing for, so I mean, we’re ready for whatever comes our way.”
Phoenix’s Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) finds it easier to land his preferred punches when he squares off against a left-handed opponent.
“It’s just the way things are lined up,” Benavidez explained. “My favorite punch is a left hook to the body and the left hook to the head. And that’s in the front with southpaws. You know, that’s directly in front of me. You know, I don’t really have to dig into it. It’s already right there in front of me.”
Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs), of Providence, Rhode Island, employs what is considered an awkward style, is a consistent combination puncher and usually defends himself well. Benavidez realizes that he’ll present more of a challenge than the last southpaw he boxed, Denis Douglin, yet Douglin won at least three rounds on two scorecards versus Benavidez before Benavidez beat him by 10th-round technical knockout in August 2016 at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
“Just the experience I’ve had with southpaws, you know, I just feel like they’re easier fighters,” Benavidez said. “I’m not saying it’s gonna be an easy fight at all. I just feel like they’re easier to hit. But, you know, we’ve got our plan. We’ve got our tricks in the bag and we’re just looking forward to this.”
Benavidez recalled Douglin, who was 20-4 when they fought, as the only southpaw he has beaten since he made his pro debut in August 2013. He still didn’t hesitate to fight Andrade, a two-weight world champion who will be the first undefeated opponent for Benavidez since he stopped Francy Ntatu (then 16-0) in the seventh round of the bout before Benavidez defeated Douglin.
“A new challenge is a new challenge, and I don’t run from any challenge,” Benavidez said. “You know, actually I embrace the challenge and I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”
Benavidez, 26, and Andrade, 35, will fight for Benavidez’s WBC interim super middleweight title in the 12-round main event of Showtime Pay-Per-View’s four-fight telecast from Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s Michelob ULTRA Arena (8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. PT; $74.99). BetMGM sportsbook has installed Benavidez as more than a 3-1 favorite to defeat Andrade.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.