The classic someone’s ‘0’ has got to go takes place at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday evening, as Demetrius Andrade and David Benavidez lock horns over twelve rounds at super middleweight in the main event of a bumper card. The winner of Benavidez vs Andrade will almost certainly land a shot at Canelo Alvarez in 2024.
Showtime televise Benavidez vs Andrade in the USA.
Andrade (32-0, 19KOs) has been a leading figure in the who needs him club over the years, with his elusive style and tall and lean frame proving many a problem for opponents. A world champion at super welterweight and middleweight, Andrade made five defences of the WBO belt at 160 pounds after winning the vacant bauble in 2018.
The defences were low-key and underwhelming, with the last in November 2021 in a second round stoppage of Jason Quigley, and he wasn’t then seen until January this year. ‘Boo-Boo’ debuted at super middleweight, and won every round of ten against the limited Demond Nicholson.
Benavidez (27-0, 23KOs) has also largely been avoided, and had two runs as WBC super middleweight champion in 2017 and 2020, and then appeared just once in 2022, hammering David Lemieux in three to take the interim version of his old belt. He defended that in his last contest in March, impressing in a points success against Caleb Plant.
Credit: Ryan Hafey – PBC
Prediction: Benavidez will come to fight, but Andrade will likely remain elusive, and frustrate his opponent with movement and eye-catching punches. The smart money is on Andrade getting his hand raised in a scrappy points win.
Matias makes inaugural defence against Ergashev, Garcia returns from Davis defeat and long awaited comeback for Jermall Charlo
IBF super lightweight champion Subriel Matias (19-1, 19KOs) makes the first defence of the vacant title that he won against Jeremias Ponce via fifth round retirement win in February, but he may have his work cut out against Shohjahon Ergashev (23-0, 20KOs).
Prediction: Both are big punchers, but I lean towards Ergashev to prevail on the cards.
The other world title clash is at super featherweight, where Hector Luis Garcia (16-1, 10KOs) drops back down in weight to defend the WBA title against Lamont Roach (23-1-1, 9KOs). Garcia moved up to lightweight to challenge Gervonta Davis for the WBA belt there, where he was stopped in nine rounds, while Roach is on a run of four straight wins since losing out via decision to Jamel Herring for the WBO strap in 2019.
Prediction: Garcia can retain with a late stoppage.
There are also no less than four ten rounders on this bill.
Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22KOs) makes a return to action after over two years away, and he takes on Jose Benavidez Jr (28-2-1, 19KOs) over a scheduled ten at middleweight. A hand injury has kept Charlo out of action, although he still holds the WBC world title at 160 pounds, and Benavidez has only won one of his last four contests, although he was stopped in the final round in 2018 by Terence Crawford, and dropped a majority decision to Danny Garcia in July 2022.
Prediction: Charlo can shake off the rust in a points win.
Other undercard action
Sergey Lipinets (17-2-1, 13KOs) looks to climb the world rankings, and the super lightweight can pound out a decision win against Michel Rivera (24-1, 14KOs).
At super featherweight, Pablo Vicente (23-1, 17KOs) can win a tight affair on the cards against Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (20-1, 11KOs), and Vito Mielnicki Jr (15-1, 10KOs) may need all ten rounds to emerge victorious against Alexis Salazar Flores (25-5, 10KOs) at super welterweight.
The sole eight rounder is at super middleweight, where Daniel Blancas (7-0, 4KOs) can overcome Raiko Santana (10-3, 6KOs) inside schedule.
In six rounders, Israel Mercado (9-1-1, 7KOs) can stop Wesley Rivers (4-3, 0KOs) in their super lightweight meeting, and 17-year-old featherweight Curmel Moton (1-0, 1KO) can take a second straight stoppage win, this time against Hunter Turbyfill (3-0, 1KO). In a battle of unbeatens at lightweight, Jabin Chollet (8-0, 7KOs) should get the better of Jorge Perez (6-0, 2KOs) on points.
The only four round contest is at welterweight, where Alex Holley (1-0, 0KOs) can halt Allen Medina (0-1).
