By Sean Jones: Demetrius Andrade wants David Benavidez to sign the contract so the two can meet to prove who is the #1 fighter in the 168-lb division.
It will be a shame if Beneavidez chooses not to fight Andrade. The ‘Mexican Monster’ Benavidez is already taking flak from boxing fans for failing to accept the challenge from WBA ‘regular’ champion David Morrell (9-0, 8 KOs), who repeatedly called him out but got nowhere.
Benavidez said he wants to pressure Canelo Alvarez by fighting the best opponents, but he already turned down Morrell. If Benavidez doesn’t fight Andrade, it’ll be interesting to see who he faces. He can’t trot out David Lemieux again.
The former two-division world champion Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs), who is daring to be great, has already won division world titles at 154 and 160, and now he’s seeking his third division title against Canelo Alvarez, but he’s got to go through WBC interim 168-lb champion Benavidez first.
Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs), who recently compared the 35-year-old Andrade with former IBF 168-lb champion Caleb ‘Sweethands’ Plant, is expected to face the Rhode Island native in November if he signs the contract.
Andrade says he already agreed to fight Benavidez when he signed with PBC & Showtime, and he’s just waiting for him now to sign to fight so they can get this match-up underway.
Benavidez is coming off a tougher-than-expected twelve-round unanimous decision win over Plant last March on Showtime PPV. Plant dominated the first five rounds with his boxing skills but then gassed out in the second half of the contest.
“That’s what his opinion. I don’t think I’m looking like Caleb Plant as far as the overall tools and abilities that I can do when the pressure is on,” said Demetrius Andrade to Fighthype about David Benavidez predicting he’ll gas out in the second half of their fight in the same way Caleb Plant last March.
“If he feels like Caleb Plant was a good stepping stone for him to say, ‘We’re ready for Andrade,’ I guess it’s a compliment. I want the same ring as Plant.
“154, 160, 168, I’ve been daring to be great. It’s going to be a great fight. We’re going to put on a show. May the best man win, of course, but it ain’t going to be easy. That’s what I’m saying.
“My part of the agreement was coming over here to PBC and Showtime and saying, ‘Yes,'” said Andrade when asked if he signed his part of the agreement to fight Benavidez.
“They’re both good in their own ways. I’m not here to break down things. [Jermell] Charloknow how to do things from the outside, not as well inside. David Benavidez is really good inside, but not much outside,” said Andrade when asked to compare Benavidez to Jermell Charlo.
“It depends on what type of fight. Styles make fights, and the thing about me, I can go in the ring and fight any style I need to win. I believe if David Benavidez hurries up and signs his contract, we’re going to see who is the best at 160.
“That’s what I believe. Call David Benavidez. Call him, find out,” said Andrade when asked what the hold up is on Benavidez not signing the contract.
