LAS VEGAS -- "The Mexican Monster" is calling his shot and the pressure is on Canelo Alvarez to answer the call.
David Benavidez pulverized the previously unbeaten Demetrius Andrade and forced the former two-division world champion to quit on the stool at the end of the sixth round to retain the WBC interim super middleweight champion at the Michelob Arena at the Mandalay Bay.
It was a systematic destruction that saw Benavidez's pressure eventually break down Andrade in a violent display of offense and one that will almost certainly see fans demand a fight between the 26-year-old and the undisputed champion Canelo.
"Let's give the people what they want to see and they want to see David Benavidez against Canelo!" Benavidez said afterward.
The fight was as violent as many anticipated as Benavidez stalked Andrade from the opening bell. Andrade was successful early on circling away and changing levels to keep the target small. He did land but there was nothing to cause Benavidez to be cautious with his approach.
By round three the pressure began to cause Andrade to wilt and Benavidez saw openings to put power punches behind his long jab. The fourth round was all Benavidez as he unloaded bludgeoning combinations as Andrade couldn't find an escape route. A pile of uppercuts and right hands wore down the former champion before a vicious right hand put Andrade down at the end of the round.
From that point, it was all Benavidez.
The champion never stopped looking for the finish and patiently stalked his prey with booming uppercut and combinations. Once the multi-punch combinations were unleashed by the end of round five, Andrade's punch resistance was reduced to nil.
With nothing left in the gas tank and an incensed champion looking to end the fight, the sixth round was an abusive display of power from Benavidez. Multiple uppercuts and right hands found their home as Andrade wobbled around the ring trying to keep his balance. He'd make it out of the round but his corner had seen enough.
Benavidez improves to 28-0 with his 24th victory coming by way of knockout. Canelo has attempted to steer clear of Benavidez but how much longer can he avoid "The Mexican Monster?"
Here's how it all went down in Las Vegas.
MORE: Sporting News' super middleweight rankings
David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade live updates, highlights, results
Round Seven: Andrade's corner has seen enough and stops the fight before the start of the seventh! It's over!
SN Unofficial Scorecard: --
Round Six: Benavidez marches forward and Andrade just shrinks. He's fighting a mountain. Right hand, left hand, uppercut. Andrade slinks away. Body shot. Another right hand. More body shots. Uppercuts. It's abusive. Another combination from Benavidez. Target practice. Uppercut from Andrade lands but it does nothing. Benavidez digs to the body and lands a right hand that sends Andrade's mouthpiece flying. Benavidez is clobbering Andrade. Andrade is a mess.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez (59-54 Benavidez)
Round Five: Benavidez is after Andrade and lands a right and an uppercut. Body shots. He's bouncing hooks off of him. Benavidez is torching him. Andrade can't get away. Andrade trying to jab but Benavidez isn't concerned at all with Andrade. Another uppercut. Andrade is falling apart. Benavidez is wrecking him. Big combination from Benavidez. Benavidez is smashing Andrade. A five-punch combination and Andrade is reeling. Benavidez is close to putting this one away. Andrade gets blasted with a combination at the end of the round.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez (49-45 Benavidez)
Round Four: Hard uppercut by Benavidez catches Andrade coming in. Another uppercut after Andrade launches a combination. Andrade digs to the body. Straight right from Benavidez. Right hook from Benavidez. The avalanche is beginning. Benavidez tags Andrade with another uppercut and a right hand. This is a lot of pressure. Hard right hand and down goes Andrade!
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-8 Benavidez (39-36 Benavidez)
Round Three: Andrade continues to stay low and makes it tough for Benavidez to find his target but eats a body shot. Andrade gets Benavidez along the ropes and pounds on the gloves. Andrade is shifty. Benavidez lands to the body and head. He's starting to catch up to Andrade. Left hand and a right follows. Andrade is retreating. Andrades fires a combination but lands nothing.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez (29-28 Benavidez)
Round Two: Andrade goes to the body and loops up top to establish his presence. Benavidez with a jab. Big combination from Andrade. A few slip through. They battle along the ropes. Andrade is awkward and finds a way to lead with a left hand. Right hand from Benavidez as the round comes to a close.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Andrade (19-19)
Round One: Benavidez lands a right hand that moves Andrade back. Andrade moving backward as Benavidez stalks. Andrade lands an overhand right. Straight right from Benavidez. Andrade attempting to go to the body. A lot of pressure from Benavidez already. Andrade is going to need something to back him off. He hasn't found it yet.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Benavidez
11:05 p.m. ET: It's time for the main event and that means that we'll be going to round-by-round coverage from here on out. Keep it locked in!
Jermall Charlo cruises to unanimous decision win over Jose Benavidez Jr.
Scores: 98-92, 99-91 & 100-90
10:57 p.m. ET: This was a good win for Jermall Charlo after 29 months away. However, it wasn't the type of performance that would have fans calling for a fight with Canelo. Nevertheless, it was a strong performance from the WBC middleweight champion. The question is whether he'll return to 160 to defend his title or move up to 168 pounds to potentially face Caleb Plant.
10:47 p.m. ET: Charlo is in complete control of this fight but he still hasn't been able to truly hurt Benavidez. With only two rounds left, Charlo likely won't take any unnecessary chances and continue to use his sharp jab to keep Benavidez under control. But if Benavidez decides to throw caution to the wind, it could get interesting.
10:35 p.m. ET: Benavidez Jr. just had a strong fifth round but Charlo is very much in control. He's much bigger and stronger than Benavidez but the speed is really telling. The reality is that Charlo needs to stop Benavidez if he has any hope of landing a future fight with Canelo Alvarez. But we'll see if he can finish the scrappy Benavidez.
10:25 p.m. ET: Even though he came in overweight, Charlo has looked extremely sharp, strong and focused through two rounds. The inability to make weight drew all kinds of red flags about whether or not Charlo's heart was still in boxing. So far, he looks just as talented as he was prior to the time off.
10:00 p.m. ET: Up next is Jermall Charlo vs. Jose Benavidez Jr. Charlo came in overweight in a catchweight fight and I'm really wondering if boxing is something his heart is into right now. I guess we'll find out shortly. Benavidez fought Terence Crawford at 147 pounds in 2018 and now finds himself fighting at 163 pounds. Some believe that this could be an audition for Charlo to face Canelo and avenge his brother's loss in September.
Subriel Matias retains IBF title by forcing Shohjahon Ergashev to quit in the 6th
9:56 p.m. ET: Just as the punishment began to pile up, Ergashev was forced to retire. At the end of the fifth round -- Matias' best to that point -- Ergashev looked defeated in the corner. It wasn't clear if there was a particular punch that hurt Ergashev but it was obvious that he didn't want anymore. This is the fifth consecutive opponent that Matias has made quit between rounds. He's the dark horse at 140 pounds, where Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia. and Regis Prograis all reside.
9:44 p.m. ET: The action is beginning to get hot and heavy through three rounds. Ergashev got off to a fast start but Matias -- known for taking his time -- is ramping up the activity and closed round three with a hard three-punch combination. The fireworks are already lit, let's see how long it takes for this fight to explode.
9:23 p.m. ET: Up next is what could be the fight of the night as Subriel Matias defends his IBF super lightweight title against Shohjahon Ergashev. Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) is allergic to decisions and has finished every opponent he's beaten. Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs) has been equally dominant throughout his career, albeit against lesser opposition. Chances are, this doesn't go the distance.
Late knockdown secures Lamont Roach WBA title with split decision win over Garcia
Scores: 116-111, 114-113 & 113-114
9:09 p.m. ET: Lamont Roach scored a knockdown in the 12th round and it looked like he needed it to get a split decision win. Roach finally wins a world title after falling short to Jamel Herring four years ago.
9:01 p.m. ET: Lamont Roach just had his best round by buzzing Garcia with a straight right hand in the 11th round. Roach isn't known as a big puncher but he certainly got Garcia's attention and had him rattled for much of the round. Certainly feels like Roach has the title in his grasp barring a big round from Garcia.
8:36 p.m. ET: Heading into the sixth round, it's anybody's fight. Garcia has done well timing Roach's advances but he's allowing Roach to dictate the action as he's looking to effectively counter. Depending on what the judges like more, the fight could go either way. It's not a terribly thrilling affair thus far.
8:13 p.m. ET: We're kicking things off with a WBA super featherweight title fight between champion Hector Luis Garcia and Lamont Roach. The last time Garcia (16-1, 10 KOs) was in action, he was stopped by Gervonta Davis. Roach (23-1-1, 9 KOs) has won four in a row after dropping a unanimous decision to Jamel Herring in 2019.
8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Benavidez vs. Andrade, which both men will hope is a final fight before the opportunity, and payday, of a lifetime against Canelo. On the undercard tonight, Jermall Charlo makes his long-awaited comeback after two and a half years out of the ring.
David Benavidez vs. Demetrius Andrade fight card
- David Benavidez def. Demetrius Andrade via 6th round TKO (3:00) for the interim WBC super middleweight title
- Jermall Charlo def. Jose Benavidez Jr. via unanimous decision (98-92, 99-91 & 100-90)
- Lamont Roach def. Hector Luis Garcia via split decision (116-111, 114-113 & 113-114) for the WBA super featherweight title
- Subriel Matias def. Shohjahon Ergashev via 6th round TKO (:02) to retain the IBF super lightweight title