David Benavidez has a challenge in front of him. And it’s not Canelo Alvarez.
Benavidez will face fellow unbeaten 168-pound contender Demetrius Andrade on pay-per-view Nov. 25 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, it has been announced.
Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is a two-time super middleweight titleholder, losing his belts first as a result of a positive test for cocaine and then on the scales after missing weight.
He’s coming off the highest-profile victory of his career, a one-sided decision over contender Caleb Plant in March.
The 26-year-old from Phoenix is considered a prime candidate to face undisputed champion Alvarez but he will now have to get past the slick Andrade first.
Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs) has struggled to lure a big-name opponent into the ring in spite of ongoing success. He’s a left-handed, former 154- and 160-pound beltholder known for his boxing ability and awkward style.
The 35-year-old from Providence, Rhode Island, made his 168-pound debut in January, when he defeated Demond Nicholson by a shutout decision.
The news conference to kick off the Benavidez-Andrade promotion is set for Oct. 12 in Los Angeles.
