Demetrius Andrade’s time is at hand. Finally.
Ther former two-division titleholder, now 35 and a 168-pounder, had not been able to lure a single top-tier opponent into the ring even though he has maintained a perfect record and been an elite professional for more than a decade.
That changed when two-time super middleweight champ and PBC stablemate David Benavidez agreed to face Andrade on pay-per-view Nov. 25 from Las Vegas.
Did Andrade wonder whether he’d ever get such an opportunity?
“Yeah,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I mean it took some time. I was explaining to someone earlier about longevity. That’s what I have, that’s what’s in me. The moment is now.”
Of course, Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) has faced quality opponents before and during title reigns at 154 and 160.
And he’s been largely untouchable, the result of an imposing blend of characteristics: skill, speed, athleticism, awkward style and southpaw stance, which, combined with a relatively modest fan base, evidently scared off potential foes.
Some might suggest that we don’t know how good Andrade really is because he hasn’t faced the best-possible opposition but he insists his ability is obvious.
“In the boxing world they know who Demetrius Andrade is,” he said. “The fighters know. They see what I’ve done. … [That’s why] they didn’t want to make fights happen. And that’s just because they know what a gamble it is.
“It’s not easy when money is on the line, when politics is on the line.”
Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) clearly is different from Andrade’s previous opponents.
The 26-year-old native of Phoenix also has been untouchable, riding his underrated boxing ability and seek-and-destroy style to one dominating victory after another. Mike Tyson labeled him the “Mexican Monster” for a reason.
And the career long 168-pounder will have a natural size advantage over Andrade.
Andrade has fought only once since becoming a full-fledged super middleweight, a less-than-convincing unanimous decision over Demond Nicholson this past January, his first fight in 14 months.
He acknowledged that he could’ve used more bulk – although he weighed in at 167 pounds, one below the limit – but attributed his so-so performance on ring rust, saying, “I was just trying get my timing back.”
What about Benavidez’s perceived size advantage? He told Sports Illustrated that he’s not concerned.
“I’m 6-1, he’s 6-1- 6-2, do the math. It’s not that big of a difference,” Andrade told the outlet. “He’s lanky, he’s bigger body size or whatever, but I have fought taller guys in my weight class before. As long as he makes the weight, and we weigh the same thing, that’s all that matters.”
Ironically, Andrade is doing what many of his own potential foes refused to do: He’s fighting a man many have avoided, Benavidez.
That fact would only add to his accomplishment if he’s able to win the upcoming fight, which would allow him to fulfill what he sees as his destiny at long last.
“It’s a great opportunity to put a stamp on Demetrius Andrade’s legacy, of course,” he said. “… I had mandatories and everybody said no at 154. I was champion at 160. Someone said they wanted to fight me to be undisputed. It didn’t happen.
“Now I’m going a whole different route. I’m stepping up when no one else at 168 was man enough to fight David.”
Andrade is man enough. We’ll see whether he’s good enough.
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