LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez is bothered by the fact that he didn’t get a stoppage in his highest-profile fight to date almost eight months ago.

The unbeaten Benavidez is consequently even more motivated to become not only the first opponent to defeat Demetrius Andrade, but to win their bout by knockout. Andrade is a southpaw, but Benavidez considers him a challenger comparable to Caleb Plant, a right-handed rival Benavidez beat by unanimous decision in their 12-round, 168-pound championship match March 25 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Andrade will fight at the super middleweight limit of 168 pounds for just the second time in 15 years as a pro, which is among the advantages Benavidez believes he has over the former WBO middleweight and WBA/WBO 154-pound champion entering their fight Saturday night at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s Michelob ULTRA Arena.

“I feel like I’m gonna end up hurting him,” Benavidez told BoxingScene.com. “I feel like it’s gonna be similar to the Caleb Plant fight. You know, it’s gonna take me two, three rounds to get my rhythm started. But then, when I start to impose my will on him, I think I’m gonna punish him. And I think ultimately I’m gonna get a stoppage. My last fight, I wasn’t too happy with not stopping Caleb Plant. So, this fight I’m really gonna do my best to get a knockout or a stoppage.”

Benavidez beat Plant comfortably on the scorecards of Tim Cheatham (115-113), Dave Moretti (116-112) and Steve Weisfeld (117-111).

Plant boxed well during the first half of their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event, but Benavidez took control during the second half of their grudge match and decisively defeated him. Benavidez had won each of his six previous bouts by knockout or technical knockout.

Phoenix’s Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) is more than a 3-1 favorite over Andrade (32-0, 19 KOs), a 2008 U.S. Olympian from Providence, Rhode Island, according to BetMGM sportsbook.

“I think he’s similar to Caleb,” Benavidez said. “The only thing different is that he’s a southpaw. But right now, this is my second pay-per-view [main event]. Obviously, the fights are gonna get harder. I look at every opponent, when I prepare for my upcoming fights, that they’re gonna be the best opponents that I’ve faced. All of ‘em are good.

“So, I mean, I’m just saying that I’m preparing very well. You know, I know the fights are won in the training camps and we’re working extremely hard. You know, Andrade’s a really good fighter. I take nothing away from him, but I just feel like I’m on a different level right now.”

Benavidez, 26, and Andrade, 35, will fight for Benavidez’s WBC interim super middleweight title in another Showtime Pay-Per-View main event. Their 12-round, 168-pound championship clash will headline a four-fight show scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT; $74.99).

“I think it’s a great fight,” Benavidez said. “Andrade, you know, he has a lot of tricks in his bag. He has a lot of experience, both amateur and professional. And he’s been a champion, so he’s hungry to win another belt. But I just feel like, you know, at this level right now I’m too motivated, too powerful, too big, too hungry, too strong. You know, and I feel like we’re gonna give the fans a great fight.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.