David Benavidez vs Demetrius Andrade press conference quotes
DB: “I’m taking this challenge because I want to shut everybody’s mouth up”
Photos from Esther Lin/SHOWTIME®
Undefeated two-time super middleweight world champion David “El Monstruo” Benavidez and unbeaten two-division champion Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade squared off at a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday as they previewed their showdown for Benavidez’s Interim WBC Super Middleweight Title headlining a SHOWTIME PPV on Saturday, November 25 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Two of the most talented and avoided fighters in the stacked 168-pound division, Benavidez and Andrade will present an intriguing style matchup between undefeated foes, with the winner in pole position to reclaim championship gold in the near future.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from The Conga Room at L.A. Live:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“This is definitely the biggest fight of my career. I give Demetrius a lot of props. He’s a great fighter and a lot of people have been ducking him for a long time. Nobody wanted to give him the opportunity but now we came together and we have the opportunity to make a great fight happen. These are the fights I want. I want to make my own lane and face the best. Andrade is one of the best in this weight class.
“I know this isn’t going to be an easy fight but at the end of the day, it’s going to bring the best out of me. I’m a monster for a reason.
“Everything about Demetrius Andrade is different than Caleb Plant. His fighting style. He’s a lefty. His combination selection is different. It’s up to me to do the homework and see what I can learn from him off his previous fights and then put in the game plan. He’s a world class fighter and he’s not going to give me an easy fight at all. He’s hungry for the fight so that’s going to make for a great fight and the fans are going to be the ones who win.
“I’m not worried about Canelo Alvarez. I’m worried about Demetrius Andrade. I definitely believe the winner of this fight is the best super middleweight in the world.
“He’s a very technical fighter. He’s a champion in two different weight classes. When you get a fighter like this, it’s 50-50. He’s a threat to anybody. A lot of people wouldn’t take the fight with him because they know he’s a problem. But for me, I want to be the best.
“I’m taking this challenge because I want to shut everybody’s mouth up. When great fighters get put in front of me, the best comes out of me and I become a great fighter myself.
“Training camps win fights and I’ve been training extremely hard. I’ve been really motivated since my last fight. I want to continue being on the pay-per-view level. I just have to keep working hard, staying disciplined and motivated.
“I looked into his soul on those two faceoffs. I saw that he was scared but I know that he’s probably going to say the same thing about me.”
DEMETRIUS ANDRADE
“This is a great opportunity for myself and for David Benavidez to put on a show. I’m excited. This is a great matchup and David is giving me an opportunity to become a three-division world champion. I’m looking forward to it. We’re ready to rumble.
“There’s nothing about this guy that you can criticize. Therefore, we have ourselves a great fight. Our styles are going to clash really well and I think we’re going to put on a show. May the best man win.
“This is the Super Bowl of the 168-pound division. This is the biggest fight that can be made. The two most avoided fighters. Yes, I haven’t fought the best because the best doesn’t want to fight me. He can have that same claim. But the time is now. This is the fight.
“It’s great to see these father-son relationships. David and Jose Sr. are coming together and making it work. I have that as well. The bond is special. I know that he’s going to have the love in his corner and I’m going to have the love in my corner.
“I believe that my power, my mind, my strength, my soul can overtake anything. I bet that Benavidez has that same will. November 25, we will be seasoning up some turkey. I definitely have what it takes.
“This is the fight that is going to close out the year and be comparable to all the great fights that SHOWTIME put on this year. We’re going to do our job to make sure it is the greatest fight of the year.
“I’m looking to conquer the whole super middleweight division. This would be my third weight class. That’s what gives me the right to say I’m the best. This is bigger than Canelo. This is way bigger than that. We can’t just sit back and wait for him. David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade is the biggest fight.”
JOSE BENAVIDEZ SR., Benavidez’s Father and Trainer
“I think Andrade is a great fighter. He’s a special fighter who is very dangerous. He’s a champion and an Olympian but I think David is going to stop him in the eighth round. We have to prove ourselves and David has to look spectacular in order to get the bigger fights. I think David is the best fighter at 168 pounds in the world.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“This is an excellent matchup between two undefeated fighters willing to put it all on the line. David Benavidez is one of boxing’s most entertaining fighters with his aggressive, crowd-pleasing style. He’s a fighter who is always trying to knock your head off. The guy can crack. Demetrius Andrade is a slick, powerful southpaw, and a great counter puncher. He has the type of style that makes it very difficult for his opponent to prepare for in training camp.
“The winner of this fight will emerge as a clear frontrunner for boxing’s biggest superstar, Canelo Alvarez. I’m looking forward to seeing the fight in Las Vegas on November 25, Thanksgiving weekend. You don’t want to miss this at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME SPORTS®
“SHOWTIME and PBC continue to lead the industry with the biggest slate of exciting fights and exciting fighters. November 25 is another great fight in a great year of fights. Two of the most skilled and accomplished fighters in the 168-pound division. The best versus the best. We’ve been saying that all year, but it never gets old because that’s what we do.
“This will be David Benavidez’s ninth appearance on SHOWTIME. His first appearance on the network was back in 2015 at the age of 18 on SHOBOX®. He won his first world title on SHOWTIME and he’s coming off a big win in his first SHOWTIME PPV headlined fight against Caleb Plant. He is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport.
“Demetrius Andrade is a very worthy opponent. An Olympian, two-division world champion who hasn’t lost a fight in 15 years. He likes to say he’s the most avoided fighter in boxing but I think both of these guys can make that claim. What do you do when you have two avoided fighters in the sport and you’ve got one mega-fight lurking? Everybody wants the Canelo fight, but what I respect about these two men in this fight is that they aren’t waiting to get a phone call. They are going out and making their case by taking tough fights and taking risks. That’s what this sport is all about. On November 25, nobody is avoiding anyone.
“Mandalay Bay is the site of the greatest fight in SHOWTIME history and one of the greatest fights in boxing history. I’m talking of course about Corrales vs. Castillo. The spirit of Corrales vs. Castillo will be in that arena and I am very confident on November 25, we will get something very close.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing, are on sale now and available through AXS.com
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