David Benavidez is a slight favorite against WBA “regular” lightweight champion David Morrell for their February 1st fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both fighters made their debuts at 175, but Morrell looked perfect for the weight class in his win over Radivoje Kalajdzic on August 3rd.
A loss for Benavidez in this fight could be the beginning of the end for “The Mexican Monster” because it will only get worse for him if he faces other talents at 175.
This fight is a test. If Morrell destroys Benavidez, it could be over for him because he won’t beat the top dogs, Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol. No one believes that even now, but it will be a clear certainty after losing to Morrell.
Benavidez doesn’t have the pop in his punches, the defense, or the right style for this weight class. Look carefully at the picture above.
notice the fragile torso Benavidez’s head is too big for his body, which will be a target for knockout artists like Morrell. A lack of upper body strength will put Benavidez at the mercy of almost everyone in the 175 lb weight class. These are very noticeable physical defects.
Benavidez’s style isn’t right for 175
Benavidez didn’t look as good, showing no power and fading at the midpoint of his closely contested win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th.
This fight showed everyone that Benavidez’s method for victory, with the punching volume, did not work at 175. It will lead to many defeats for Benavidez and an early retirement. He is not destined for the lightweight division, but he cannot return to 168. He has passed the weight class, because there is no return. This is it.
Benavidez’s first loss could come against Morrell on February 1st as he will not change his fighting style. He can’t. Benavidez is like an old dog who can’t learn new tricks, and he’s stuck in that style.
“It’s not bad blood, but everyone who’s against me, I don’t like it, and this guy makes it even easier for me to go out there and do my thing,” said David Benavidez to Premier Boxing Champions about whether he has any animosity with David Morrell before their fight on February 1st. “I have nothing against him, but I’m going to beat the crap out of him.”
The Cuban Morrell has been pushing for this fight for the past two years, and Benavidez has repeatedly denied that they did not want to face him. Fans noticed and attributed to the ancient fear.
Benavidez lived for a payday against Canelo Alvarez, and it would have been a crazy move if he had taken Morrell. Now she is mad, but she has no choice. If he wants the money he can get fighting for the lightweight championship against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch, he has to go through Morrell. It is the obstacle in his way.
Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) has an excellent chance to create a minor upset in this fight because he has the power, natural size, speed and technical skills, along with his mobility. It will be interesting to see the look on people’s faces if things don’t work out for Benavidez.
