Leonard Ellerbe says the lightweight bout between David Benavidez and David Morrell will “settle the score” from their years of trash-talking when they meet in the main event of their “50-50” fight on 1 February at the T-Mobile Arena. in Las Vegas.
(Credit: Esther Lin and Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Why did Benavidez avoid Morrell?
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) appeared agitated during his kick-off press conference on Tuesday, upset about his courage being questioned by Cuban Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) and fans for choosing to do not take this fight until almost three. years after the first initial callout.
It is believed that Benavidez avoided Morrell because he was afraid of losing and then ruining his chances of fighting Canelo Alvarez. He wanted the Canelo fight, but he wasn’t willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to get to face Morrell.
After Benavidez’s last performance against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, he had no choice but to fight WBA “regular” lightweight champion Morrell because he had looked so bad in his debut at 175. For take the fight for the undisputed championship, Benavidez had to do. fight Morrell. It wouldn’t have worked if he had been matched up against another older fighter because he had been fighting those guys for most of his career.
There was no one Benavidez could face that would wash away the sour stain from his disappointing performance against the 37-year-old Gvozdyk, who had beaten him and beaten him throughout the second half of their contest.
“I expect to see two young warriors who go. There are two guys in their prime who are ready to establish the point,” said Leonard Ellerbe to KO Artist Sports about the February 1 fight between David Benavidez and David Morrell.
“There’s been a lot of back and forth between the two guys for a long time, and I think they’re both excited to come in here and prove who the best is. They’re right there. Everybody knows that when it comes to the best in weight class, you have two of the best getting ready to go on February 1,” Ellerbe said about the Morrell vs. Benavidez fight.
There wasn’t much back and forth between Benavidez and Morrell. It was mostly at an end by Morrell, who called Benavdiez for two years, but he was intent on his pursuit of Canelo Alvarez.
If he could read between the lines, he would have known that Canelo will NEVER beat him. Benavidez could have spent and saved two years of facing street level opposition by fighting Morrell. He won’t have to worry about that now that he’s fighting at 175 because the top fighters in this weight class don’t throw their opponents away like he did at 168.
If Morrell beats Benavidez, it will show many fans that they have misjudged him all these years, fooled by his wins over soft opposition in a weight class he should never have fought due to his frame. lightweight massif.
“I don’t think either fighter wants to look forward. On the business side, management is looking forward, but the fighters (Benavidez and Morrell), both of them know that both guys have their hands full. It’s a real 50 fight. -50 in my opinion,” Ellerbe said.
There is no way that Benavidez and Morrell can look forward, as they realize that this is the hardest fight of their careers on paper. If either loses, they can forget about fighting for the undisputed lightweight championship against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch in Saudi Arabia.
It’s a big step for Morrell, 26, but it’s also difficult for Benavidez. “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez’s career-best win came recently against 37-year-old Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, and it didn’t look good. This fight showed that Benavidez no longer dominated like he did at 168 against smaller, weaker and older fighters.
