Interim WBC super middleweight titleholder David ‘El Monstruo’ Benavidez 28-0 (24) insists he is the man to beat in the 168-pound weight class following his six-round destruction of former two-weight world champion Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade 32-1 (19) at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
Phoenix, Arizona’s Benavidez, 26, needed few rounds to get settled but one he got going he ran over the 35-year-old southpaw like a steam train. Andrade was decked in the fourth round by a big right hand to the head and was beaten up for the next to rounds before failing to answer the bell for the seventh.
It was a comprehensive destruction from Benavidez, who has long coveted a shot at undisputed super middleweight champion and Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39).
“I think I just solidified myself as the dominant performer I am. Just a reminder to let everybody know who the fuck the real champion at 168 is,” Benavidez said in the ring after the fight.
“They want to see me versus Canelo and that’s what we want too. I’m the youngest super middleweight champion of the world, three-time world champion, just gimme the fight that we all want to see.
“Who wants to see David Benavidez versus Canelo? That’s what you guys wanna see? Let’s get it.”
With his high profile the 33-year-old Alvarez has the luxury of picking and choosing his opponents, whether moving to challenge a titleholder at light heavyweight like he did against Dmitry Bivol and Sergei Kovalev, or bringing someone up form the lighter weight classes like he did with former undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermall Charlo in his last fight.
But as things stand at the moment, there are very names floating around that fans want Alvarez to fight next. Jaime Munguia, Carlos Adames, David Morrell and Jermall Charlo just don’t cut it in terms of name recognition.
Benavidez believes his victory over the weekend combined with a social media push from fans will eventually force Alvarez to face him, whether that is in his next fight or further down the track.
The ball is now firmly in Alvarez’s court. How he plays it is up to him.
“I just look at the facts. People want to see this fight more than Carlos Adames and [Jermall] Charlo. That’s why that fight hasn’t happened,” he said.
“I’ve been winning the fights I was supposed to win in fantastic fashion. He [Canelo Alvarez] has nobody else to fight.
“If they want to give it to me now, later, or whenever. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to keep giving you guys the fights that you want to see.
“I just want to say welcome to the David Benavidez era.”
