David Benavidez is the boxing critic’s choice for Canelo Alvarez to prove that he is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
However, the Guadalajara native has refused to give the so-called Mexican Monster a chance and has instead opted for Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga as his last two opponents.
Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade points to Benavidez for warning about his weight
One of the reasons why Saul Alvarez has been justified in his refusal to face Benavidez is because of the weight difference, since after the weigh-in in the Super Middleweight division, Red Flag can move up to the Light Heavyweight division, where he fought the last time against Oleksandr Gvozdyk and, according to critics, he did not look as strong as in the 168 pounds despite his unanimous decision victory.
One of those who supports that notion is his last super middleweight rival: Demetrius Andrade (32-1), who lost his unbeaten record to David Benavidez in November 2023 with a sixth-round knockout.
“Because he was a big, strong guy, he was able to take it, he weighed a lot more than me. After that fight (against Gvozdyk), he said ‘I can still get to 168’ because he felt the weight difference. He can’t do what he usually does when he’s not the fighter who abuses with weight,” Boo Boo Andrade explained to Fight Hub TV.
Demetrius Andrade is no novice: he was a world champion in the super welterweight division, Terence Crawford’s division, and in the middleweight division (160 pounds), in both divisions by the WBO.
On February 1, the Mexican Monster will have a new opportunity to prove that he is powerful at 175 pounds when he faces David Morrell in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez or anyone at 168 pounds can’t handle David Benavidez
Regarding a possible fight with Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2), Andrade believes that Benavidez (29-0) would be a clear winner and that there is no one in the super middleweight category who can beat Red Flag.
“I don’t see how Canelo is going to beat him. Canelo is smaller and (I) could push David for a couple of rounds, do what I had to do, whatever with that weight and his length and he knows how to throw punches in clusters. It’s going to be a tough task for Canelo
I don’t think Canelo beats David. I don’t think anybody, anybody at 168 right now beats him
“And because he’s big and tall, (Benavidez) can protect himself. How can you score against a guy like that, who is a powerful puncher, to win and knock him down? Canelo is a good fighter, I have nothing against Canelo in terms of his boxing,” added Boo Boo, 36.
Saul Alvarez already had a similar experience when he faced Dmitry Bivol in 2022, who clearly defeated him on the scorecards and is one of the best fighters in the light heavyweight division.
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