This Saturday as the college football regular season winds down, David Benavidez faces Demetrius Andrade at the Mandalay Bay. It's another pay-per-view event, which invariably brings about a lot of chatter on social media on the merits of purchasing such an event.
I was asked this on Monday, and to me the answer was very simple
Yes.
And the reasoning is very simple: in addition to this main event, this is actually a very solid card from top-to-bottom put together by my good friends at PBC.
Showtime Sports
This is a card to be thankful for.
Generally, most pay-per-view offerings are about a high profile main event, and then a bunch of filler. Whether its one-sided house fights, or in years past Butterbean and Mia St. John. But this lineup at the Michelob Ultra Arena is one that has meaningful fights that could provide some real action.
So thank you Al Haymon!! (Did I do that right?)
Here's a look at the lineup...
- Benavidez vs Andrade
This here is a fight for Benavidez's (27-0, 23 KOs) interim WBC super middleweight title. In theory, the winner of this contest should be in line for a crack at Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. But you wonder if that really applies just to Benavidez (who is rated number one in the division by Ring Magazine), and not the tricky southpaw, Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs). Bottom line, Canelo-Benavidez makes for much bigger business for the Mexican superstar than does 'Boo Boo'
But with that said, this is a fantastic opportunity for the 35 year old Andrade who has been perennially avoided by the marquee names at 160 and 168. It was a bit of a surprise that Benavidez given his slow feet, would face a southpaw who can move.
Showtime Sports
Yet Caleb Plant found out earlier this year, that while you can run, you can't hide for all 36 minutes against the steady pressure of Benavidez. Another variable is just how much longer can he stay at super middleweight, where he seem to be bursting at the seems physically.
For Andrade, he finally gets his crack on boxing's biggest stage. If he still has his legs underneath him, at the very least he'll give Benavidez fits. The question is if he can get a fair shake on the scorecards.
Danny Delgado
Jim Lampley who will be working this event for PPV.com says, "the winner becomes a logical opponent for Canelo Álvarez at 168 pounds, as both Benavidez and Andrade have been circling Canelo and hunting this opportunity for the past couple of years."
- Subriel Matias vs Shohjahon Ergashev
Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) is the defending IBF junior welterweight titlist, after winning this vacant strap back in February by blasting out Jeremias Ponce in a five round slugfest. This Puerto Rican - who is rated fourth in the division by Ring -- is a classic pressure fighter, who never stops coming.
Showtime Sports
He is facing a guy in Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs), who has drawn some comparisons to Manny Pacquioa with his left-hand heavy attack, and the quick pace in which he gets to work. This is a guy who hits hard, and hits often.
SHOHJAHON ERGASHEV VS MYKAL FOX HIGHLIGHTS
Ergashev is rated number nine by Ring at 140, and more than a few pundits are tabbing him to take the title. But you wonder, should Matias hold off the early onslaught, can he withstand the late round pressure that he'll be facing in the second half of this bout?
- Hector Luis Garcia vs Lamont Roach.
The last time we saw Garcia (16-1, 10 KOs), he made a good account of himself before succumbing to the heavy artillery of 'Tank' Davis back in January. Since that contest took place at lightweight, he remains a WBA belt-holder at 130. He is listed at number two in this weight class by Ring, behind Emanuel Navarrete.
Showtime Sports
In Roach(23-1-1, 9 KOs) he is facing his WBA mandatory. This will be his second crack at a world title. Back in 2019, he failed in his attempt to win the WBO belt as he came up short against Jamel Herring, in a fight where he had some strong moments in the championship rounds.
Roach, is a solid technician, but you get the sense that in this contest he will have to be more than just that. He will have to bite down a bit, and be willing to get grimey. While a southpaw, Garcia isn't hard to find in there. Roach has to realize that title opportunities are limited for guys like him, this could be his last shot.
For him to become a world champion, he'll have to go about things with a certain sense of urgency that hasn't always been there.
- Jermall Charlo vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.
This is a super middleweight contest, as the WBC doesn't believe that Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) should be under any obligation to defend his title -- even after a full two years after his last defense of this belt. The reported catch-weight for this bout is 163 pounds.
It will be interesting to see just what Charlo looks like after such a long layoff. In Benavidez (28-2-1, 19 KOs), he is facing a natural welterweight. But he did play the heavyweight champion in 'Creed III', so there is that.
This is the one weak link on this pay-per-view card, but overall, this is a strong ledger, one that has relevant boxers involved in meaningful contests.
It gets the Kimster seal of approval.
3KR
This week on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule' Mario Lopez and I preview the aforementioned card, and we look back at the Shakur Stevenson-Edwin De Los Santos bout. Click on the Linktree to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform:
3knockdownrule - Listen on YouTube, Spotify - Linktree
FINAL FLURRIES
Speaking of PPV.com, according to their press release they will be live-streaming Benavidez vs. Andrade in the U.S. and Canada on Saturday, November 25, beginning at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, for $74.99....Sergey Lipinets-Michel Rivera will take place on the portion of this card that will be streamed on the Showtime YouTube channel.....Hope everyone out there has a good Thanksgiving...I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com......
