As David Benavidez prepares to take on Demetrius Andrade on Nov. 25 in Las Vegas on Showtime pay-per-view, the super middleweight sensation also has his sights set on 2024.
Benavidez has long desired a dance with the division’s undisputed champion, but if Canelo Alvarez doesn’t welcome a clash, then Benavidez will instead focus on taking on the likes of PBC stablemates David Morrell and Jermall Charlo, and even a run at 175 pounds.
Another enticing opponent for the 26-year-old Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KOs).
Both camps engaged in discussions earlier this year but negotiations faltered.
Benavidez claims Munguia’s camp pulled out, while Munguia co-promoter Fernando Beltran insisted that his Mexican star is the A-side. Munguia has insisted that the fight is more likely to take place in 2024.
“They didn’t want the fight. It’s as simple as that,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com and other media in an interview. “We were negotiating for a couple of months and they didn’t want it. It would have been a massive fight. Yeah, I think so [that there is a foundation around negotiations to pick it back up in 2024]. We’ll see. He’s a great fighter. I think he wanted to get a little bit more comfortable at 168. He barely has one fight there. So anything is possible.”
Munguia fought through fire to score a close unanimous decision win against Sergiy Derevyanchenko in June during his super middleweight debut in a fight of the year contender.
Even though the popular Mexican fighter Munguia has some cracks in the armor, he’s been a strong ticket seller in his headlining fights, and a bout with Benavidez should sell well.
Having already beaten former 168-pound titlist Caleb Plant in March, and promising to beat the slick southpaw and former two-division champion Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) while headlining his second straight pay-per-view event, Benavidez doesn’t want to take a step down in the caliber of competition he’s facing.
“Now it’s my job to keep delivering on the performances,” said Benavidez.
“Andrade has been ducked for so long, we haven’t seen the best of him. But I’m preparing for the best Demetrius Andrade. I know what’s at the table and I know what I am getting ready for … The key for me [to win] is to throw a lot of combinations and stand my ground.”
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.