Andrade vs. Benavidez: The Future of 168!

While a lot of people are sleeping on one of the best closers of the year, hardcore combat sports fans are locked in to Demetrius Andrade vs. David Benavidez. Premier Boxing Champions' November 25th, 2023 card features a lineup of contenders up and down the weight classes, with two world championships on the line. Dominican superstar Hector Luis Garcia defends his WBA 130 lb championship against Lamont Roach, with Puerto Rican legend Subriel Matias defending his IBF 140 lb championship in the co-main event. However, the most important fight of the evening involves the future of the super middleweight division. This fight marks the first time "Boo Boo" and "The Mexican Monster" will step into the ring together, as they never crossed paths in the amateur boxing circuit like many current superstars have in the past. Andrade walks into this fight as the former WBO Middleweight Champion of the world, vacating his championship to move up last year. Andrade also held onto the WBO Super Welterweight Championship of the world back in 2017. Benavidez sizes up as a two-time WBC Super Middleweight champion, with credible wins against Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Plant, and David Lemieux. With names such as those on his resume, its no wonder that most of the super-middleweight division has avoided him. Benavidez was coined "The Mexican Monster" by the one and only "Iron" Mike Tyson due to his ferocity in the ring. When someone steps in the ring with David Benavidez, they are being hunted from round one to round twelve. Benavidez is an enigma of the 168 lb division, remaining a name considered among the elite, but effectively shunned by those who could give him a chance at greatness. This is why Benavidez and his father José Sr have repeatedly mentioned a move to light heavyweight, giving him a greater chance at making big-time fights. However, it seems before Benavidez finishes business at 168, he wants to challenge himself against Andrade to once again prove to the world that he is more than capable of facing off against Canelo, or any other world-class competition that hopes to step up against him. Benavidez and Andrade's stories are similar in regards to being ducked by their competition, but their personalities and aims couldn't be any more different.

For Andrade, this fight being made is the conclusion to a years-long journey from division to division, promotion to promotion. The biggest names in the sport have eluded him, despite his performances in the ring showing that he is worthy of attention. Andrade moved to Eddie Hearn's DAZN believing he would be able to land a big fight there. It never materialized and Andrade was once again on the hunt for names to add to his resume. Premier Boxing Champions, his current home, boasts a stacked 168 lb division currently. WBA Champion David Morrell is another salivating name, but talks involving Morrell, Benavidez, and Andrade fizzled out months ago. After picking up two belts in two different weight classes, one would expect Andrade to be a well-respected individual in the combat sports industry. This is the exact opposite of what holds to be true. To this day, Demetrius Andrade is still one of the most underrated world champions in not just boxing history, but combat sports history as a whole. His accomplishments are consistently walked over in favor of praising competition that either declined to fight him or didn't even mention his name. Andrade deserves more respect within the business, and the media buildup to this fight is indicative of that. People who ask Andrade questions from the media gallery slip up and refer to Andrade as if he is a new fixture of the boxing community when he has been competing since 2008. Not only is he a 2 time, 2 division world champion, Andrade is also a USA Boxing National Tournament Champion, as well as a 2 time National Golden Gloves Champion. He's put in work since the early 2000s before some of us were even a thought in our parents' heads. With this fight, Andrade is giving himself not just a boost in popularity, but credibility. A narrative that surrounds Andrade's career is that he "runs" away from fights, although we know the opposite is true. After defeating Demond Nicholson, many people expected Andrade to simply call out Canelo again, but he decided to focus more on the people waiting in line, just like him. Calling out Plant, Benavidez, and the Charlo brothers showed to the public that Andrade was focused on taking out the competition around him, rather than waiting for a handout like many boxers at 168 lbs are. Now, about to face arguably the most dangerous super middleweight outside of Canelo, it is utterly impossible to dismiss or ignore Andrade. He has gained significant credibility for taking this fight, win or lose Andrade should be celebrated as a risk-taker and someone willing to put his legacy on the line. In a generation full of influencers and people who choose to take the easiest route to world title opportunities, Demetrius Andrade shows that hard workers still exist in the sport of boxing.