LOS ANGELES – Demetrius Andrade is believed to be one of boxing’s biggest boogeymen, but the thought of facing “Boo Boo” does not sound like a scary task for David Benavidez.
The former two-time 168-pound titlist Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) and Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) will meet in a super middleweight matchup on November 25 at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob Arena in Las Vegas on Showtime pay-per-view.
An army of big-name opponents and champions have escaped the 35-year-old Andrade throughout his 15-year career, but the southpaw finally got his long-desired wish of a highly regarded opponent when Benavidez answered the call.
“These are the types of fights I want. These are the types of fights that motivate me. Demetrius Andrade is a slick fighter and has a lot of tricks in his bag. He’s going to bring the best out of me,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com and other media in an interview.
“He’s a top fighter. When you get fighters like him it’s always 50-50. I have nothing but respect for him. He has power. He’s a threat to anybody.
“He’s a very technical fighter. He’s a very good fighter. He’s a champion in two different divisions. There are a lot of things that he does well. A lot of people didn’t take the fights with him because they know he is a problem. But for me, I want to be the best.”
Benavidez’s last fight in March also featured a tricky and technical fighter in Caleb Plant, but Benavidez passed his test with flying colors with a convincing unanimous decision victory.
Benavidez expects another winning result once Thanksgiving weekend arrives.
“I’ve always sparred against a lot of boxers who move around a lot. It’s not like I’m new to this. I’ve seen [Andrade’s] style,” said Benavidez.
“He moves around a lot and throws a lot of good combinations, uppercuts, and looping overhand lefts. I’ve been studying him … I’ve been working really hard in this camp. I’m looking forward to having another massive pay-per-view event.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.