American super middleweights David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade have officially signed to face each other on November 25th at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Additionally, Benavidez will be defending his WBC interim title against Andrade on fight night.
This clash will feature two undefeated and highly-talented fighters going head-to-head in a bout that could reshape the entire division. Both David Benavidez (32-0, 19 KO’s) and Demetrius Andrade (27-0, 23 KO’s) are likely vying for a shot at the undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KO’s), whom they have both expressed interest in fighting.
While Benavidez’s fight against Caleb Plant (22-2, 13 KO’s) earlier this year in March was already one of the biggest fights of the year, Andrade’s credentials make the clash between these two 168-pounders even more significant when considering the full stakes.
An interesting dynamic in this match is that 35-year-old Andrade is nearly a decade older than 26-year-old David Benavidez. Despite his advanced age in boxing terms, Demetrius Andrade has remained one of the fittest and most laser-focused fighters of the past decade.
For Andrade, defeating Benavidez is an opportunity for him to finally step into the limelight and take his career to the next level after years of facing low- or mid-tier fighters. His resume notably lacks any elite fighters, despite competing in at least two different divisions throughout his career. Though highly regarded for his skills, even Andrade’s past world title victories have not earned him a spot on the pound-for-pound list, and he will be eager for a victory over Benavidez to receive the recognition he deserves.
Benavidez is also looking to elevate his career. Although he is recognized as a two-time world champion due to capturing the super middleweight title twice, Benavidez has been left without world title glory after Canelo Alvarez entered the division and gathered all four major belts in just three years.
Seeing Alvarez as both a rival and an obstacle to greatness, Benavidez’s destiny seems intertwined with the Mexican boxer. However, he will first need to surpass Andrade, who has his own grudge against Alvarez.
Both competitors will be fighting at 168 lbs with the intention of using their match against each other as a stepping stone to face the division’s undisputed champion. In that sense, their bout is even more relevant, as they face the toughest test in their careers. A victory would establish them as the #1 contenders and give them the confidence and reputation to make a fight against Alvarez more feasible.
Their bout will be a clash of styles, with Benavidez known more as a powerful puncher complemented by skills that make him a threat at any range, while Andrade enjoys a reputation for being highly skilled in every aspect of boxing.
The Michelob Ultra Arena will host these two respected fighters, where the fate of the 168-lb division might be decided. The victor will establish themselves as the best (or second-best) contender, while the loser of this matchup will lose their undefeated record and potentially stall their careers in pursuit of a world title shot.
