David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade: Preview & Prediction

We’re one step closer (hopefully) to figuring out Canelo Alvarez’s next super middleweight title challenger when David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) collide.

Benavidez and Andrade will throw leather inside the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday night (November 25). Benavidez’s WBC interim super middleweight championship is at stake. Not only is interim gold on the line but so are the undefeated records of “El Bandera Roja” and “Boo Boo.”

Benavidez enters this scrap with a record of 27-0, with 23 of those wins coming by way of knockout. He captured the WBC interim super middleweight gold by stopping David Lemieux in the third round in May 2022. Less than two full months shy of a year later, Benavidez successfully defended his hardware against Caleb Plant, taking a unanimous decision.

As for Andrade, his record stands at 32-0 with 19 knockouts on his resume. The former WBO middleweight champion had been out of action for over a year before returning in January. He defeated Demond Nicholson via unanimous decision.

David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade Prediction

Andrade can certainly give Benavidez problems with his style and movement. I can see Andrade taking some early rounds as Benavidez tries to get into a rhythm and figure his opponent out. We saw Benavidez struggle early against Plant before he applied pressure and had his opponent hurt en route to a unanimous decision victory.

My question would be, at the age of 35 and having had some inactivity, is Andrade’s speed enough to follow the early blueprint Caleb Plant laid out? I don’t think he’ll be able to. Maybe for the first 2 or 3 rounds, Andrade will throw Benavidez into a funk, but I expect “El Bandera Roja” to download his foe’s game plan and apply that same pressure he had on Plant.

One thing about “Boo Boo” is he likes to start hot and then coast. I don’t think this will work against Benavidez, who seems to get better the longer his fights go. Andrade will feel pressure unlike he’s felt in any of his previous 32 bouts. At some point, Andrade will need to be more aggressive than he’s used to, throwing him out of his element. I’m taking David Benavidez to have his hand raised after 12 rounds.

Prediction: David Benavidez via unanimous decision

Fernando Quiles Jr.

Fernando has been covering combat sports and pro wrestling for over a decade. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated’s MMA Knockout, BJPenn.com, and Middle Easy. Fernando is excited to be a part of FightsATW to provide you with the latest news content in the worlds of boxing and wrestling.

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