Trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. predicts that his son, “The Mexican Monster” David Benavidez, will go to “destroy” David Morrell in his lightweight contest in 11 days on February 1st on PBC on Prime Video PPV in Las Vegas.
This fight will show if Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is just a “false“”Monster”, who lives up to the hype he got from fighting smaller opposition at 168, or if it’s true. Morrell says he’s seen fighters like Benavidez and sees him as 100% “false”.
Now that Benavidez is fighting at 175 against a younger fighter with the same size as him, but more power, he could be exposed by Morrell (11-0, 9 KO).
Is the exit strategy already planned?
According to Team Morrell, Benavidez is between 215 and 220. So, he had the size to reinvent himself at cruiserweight if he fails against the Cuban talent on February 1.
If Benavidez loses, he might need to decide if he wants to move up to cruiserweight to try to save his career in that weight class. Staying at 175 would be a mistake for him because if he can’t beat Morrell, then he certainly wouldn’t have success against Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.
Jose Sr. is already discussing a exit strategydiscussing the possibility of Benavidez moving up to cruiserweight to challenge WBA and WBO champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for his belts. He will have to wait his turn until after IBF champion Jai Opetaia faces Zurdo in a three-belt unification. But either of those guys would be open to fighting Benavidez with him coming off a loss to Morrell.
Even if he is removed by Morrell, they will be willing to fight him because he will still be popular, and he could have excuses to explain his loss. He mentioned injuries to explain why he did poorly against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and the fans believed him. He could do the same thing if he loses to Morrell, and people would give him a pass.
“We’re 100% locked in with Morrell. He’s a tough fighter, a younger fighter. He’s a two-time world champion and he’s hungry. We’re not underestimating this guy,” said Jose Benavidez Sr. Sean Zittel about David Morrell, which David Benavidez does on February 1.
“We are 100% here. David (Benavidez) is 28 years old. In my mind, I think David is going to destroy him (Morrell). Let’s focus on it now. Of course, David has big dreams. He wants to fight the winner. Who doesn’t he want to fight the winner of Bivol and Beterbiev? Maybe even have a fight with Zurdo Ramirez at cruiserweight.
“These fights are great. Great monsters in that division, and there are great opportunities at that weight. Zurdo Ramirez is going to fight the other guy (IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia) for the belt, and I hope we have the opportunity to do that even this,” Benavidez Sr. said.
