By Joseph Herron: The highly-anticipated bout of boxing’s next superstar crown, titled “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell,” is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 1 February 2025. The main event. puts two undefeated fighters, David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KO) and David Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9). KOs), one against the other in a clash that has already sparked a fiery war of words between the camps.
Adding to the growing anticipation, renowned boxing trainer James Gogue, who has five decades of experience in the sport, recently weighed in on the action on the WAW BOXING podcast. While Benavidez is currently the slight betting favorite (-180) at most sportsbooks, Gogue believes the Phoenix native poses a formidable challenge.
“David Morrell Jr. is an incredibly talented fighter,” Gogue said. “You could see his natural talent from the moment he made his pro debut five years ago. He is an explosive puncher with both hands, has exceptional hand and foot speed, quick reflexes, and excellent hand-eye coordination. His ability to switch perfectly between orthodox and left-handed positions makes him dangerous in any situation. In addition, his timing, knowledge of distance and distance, and versatility – both combat from mid-range, long range, or in close quarters – they make him the total package”.
Team Benavidez has been critical of Morrell’s relatively short professional career, arguing that his lack of experience could be a disadvantage. However, Gogue counters this skepticism with several compelling arguments.
“Yes, Morrell only has 11 pro fights on his record, but he has a deep amateur pedigree,” Gogue explained. “He has faced almost every style imaginable in the amateurs. Add this to his natural athleticism and the guidance of Ronnie Shields, one of the most experienced trainers in boxing, and he does not need 40 pro fights to take the best in the division.
Ronnie Shields, Morrell’s Hall of Fame trainer, echoed those sentiments during his own podcast, “Real Boxing with Ronnie Shields.”
“David Morrell Jr. is the most athletically gifted fighter in boxing today,” Shields said. “He’s ready to humiliate David Benavidez on February 1st. The real question fans should be asking is if fighters like Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are ready for Morrell.”
While Morrell’s skills and potential are widely recognized, Gogue has highlighted a critical unknown in this career-defining battle.
“There’s a lot to like about Morrell and his future, but we’ve never seen him in a tough fight,” Gogue observed. “We don’t know how he’s going to handle adversity or how strong his chin is. In boxing, there’s an old saying: you never get too high on a prospect until you see how well they can take a punch. We’ll probably get this answer on February 1st when he will face someone like Benavidez, who has knocked out 24 opponents in just 29 fights.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher as the boxing world awaits the outcome of “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell.” This epic clash will not only determine the next dominant force in the Light Heavyweight division, but will also introduce boxing’s next superstar to the American market. Tune in on Saturday, February 1 for this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT.
