Former world champion Antonio Tarver is giving Demetrius Andrade a real shot at shocking David Benavidez on Saturday night, when the two super middleweight fighters collide at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Their fight will headline a Showtime Pay-Per-View event.
The winner could potentially fall in line for a 2024 showdown with Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
Benavidez is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career, a dominant decision over Caleb Plant.
However, some view Andrade as more complicated opponent.
“I think it’s one of the toughest fights of his career and you can tell by the respect David Benavidez is giving to Demetrius Andrade. He is not the normal monster he used to be because he knows he has a hell of a fight on his hands,” Tarver said to Betway.
Tarver believes a lot of observers are making a big mistake by overlooking Andrade in the upcoming contest.
However, Tarver cautions Andrade to have his defense on point – as Benavidez is well known for throwing a high volume of power punching combinations.
“In this internet world and social media world, it is easy for a fighter to have that type of persona to truly make a name for themselves, especially if they have the skills to back it up. I am taken back by the lack of promotion or awareness for somebody as talented as ‘Boo Boo,'” Tarver said.
“This guy was an Olympian and a two-division world champion and when you look at how this guy conducts himself in the ring, the guy can do it all and has heart and won’t lie down. I’m interested in this fight and can see Benavidez touching Demetrius if he is not dressed down in defense. He’s going to have to have that head moving, hands up, catching a lot that stuff in his arms and not let David get through with this power shots.
“You know how David likes to throw in combination form. You may be able to block one, two or three but when four or five shots come in, one of those shots are going to get in. This is why I urge guys to fight with combinations because you may hit a guy who you don’t expect to hurt them with.”