David Benavidez on Saturday retained the interim world super middleweight belt by stopping Demetrius Andrade after the sixth round, while in Ireland, Katie Taylor avenged her only professional loss by beating Chantelle Cameron in a majority decision to become a two-weight undisputed champion.
In what was billed as clash of styles that could go the distance between unbeaten 168-pounders (76.2kg), Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) looked more like a clinician with a dominating performance before Andrade’s corner requested the stoppage after the sixth round in Las Vegas.
Andrade (32-1) suffered the first loss of his career.
Photo: AFP
Benavidez is widely recognized as the world’s best super middleweight after Canelo Alvarez. Immediately after his win he called for a match against Alvarez to unify the super middleweight title as 9,585 fans roared their approval.
“I think I solidified myself as the dominant performer I am,” Benavidez said in the ring during the post-fight interview on Showtime. “Now just give me the fight that everyone wants to see.
“Let’s give the people what they want to see and they want to see David Benavidez against Canelo.”
Photo: Reuters
After three close rounds, Benavidez, 26, lived up to his nickname of “The Mexican Monster,” neutralizing Andrade’s technical skills by implementing a violent nonstop pounding over the final three rounds.
In the fourth round, Benavidez began landing solid shots and taking advantage of openings for follow-up combinations while absorbing everything Andrade threw before scoring a knockdown just before the bell.
Benavidez’s boxing skills were on full display in the fifth round, as he moved forward aggressively and continued to impose his size and power to weaken the former two-division world champion.
“It’s the fighting spirit ... it’s my passion,” Benavidez said about being triggered every time he was hit. “If you hit with me one or two punches, I’ll come back with five or six.”
Benavidez closed a minus-430 favorite at FanDuel, which means bettors would have had to lay US$430 to win US$100.
He said he hopes his command performance will be what it takes to finally lure Alvarez into the ring.
“I just want to say welcome to the David Benavidez era,” Benavidez said.
In Dublin, Taylor improved to 23-1 after the judges scored the bout 98-92, 96-94 and 95-95 at 3Arena, six months after a majority decision went Cameron’s way in the same venue.
The 37-year-old Taylor, whose lightweight belts were not on the line, now adds Cameron’s world super-lightweight titles at 140 pounds (63.5kg).
“That was the longest six months of my life waiting for this rematch,” Taylor said in the ring. “Tonight, you’ve seen the real me, and when I box like that nobody can beat me.”
The Irishwoman said she is open to a third fight with Cameron and named Ireland’s largest stadium as a location.
“Let’s get the trilogy at Croke Park,” she said of the 82,000-capacity venue.
It was Cameron’s first professional loss. The 32-year-old Englishwoman’s record is 18-1.
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