Mairis Briedis, three-time former cruiserweight champion, predicts that David Morrell’s Cuban schooling as a boxer since childhood will lead to his victory over David Benavidez on February 1.
Benavidez He will not be able to bully Morrell as he did when he fought against smaller, weaker and older fighters when they competed at 168. Morrell is the same size, younger, stronger, and he will not be intimidated the way the fighters have been beaten at super middleweight by Benavidez.
Fans have seen “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez as a weight bully for all those years, gaming the system by rushing to compete against smaller fighters in a division below his massive lightweight/cruiserweight frame.
Benavidez doesn’t look like the same fighter he was in his last fight when he moved up to 175 against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th.
Can Morrell take down the world?
Briedis says that “everyone” believes that interim WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) will meet Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), but feels that his Cuban background will be too much for “The” Mexican Monster” in his headliner at the T-Mobile Arena.
Mairis says Morrell can fight from the outside, throw with power, and fight inside. He saw all fighting styles during his years in Cuba in the national team. So, what Benavidez brings to the table in this fight will not be new to him.
Morrell arguably fought better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba, facing the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Julio Cesar La Cruz. That fight would be a nightmare for Benavidez because of his size, power and technical skills.
Politics in the ring?
One question asked for the Benavidez-Morrell fight is the judge. As Briedis points out, Benavidez is from the United States, while Morrell is from Cuba. He mentions politics. If the fight goes to the cards, will the most popular fighter, Benavidez, who has a large fanbase in the United States, be given the decision, even if it seems that he is lost?
In Benavidez’s last fight in Las Vegas against Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June, he was handed a wide 12-round unanimous decision in a contest that appeared close. Gvozdyk looked like he won five to six rounds in that fight, but the Nevada judges scored it to Benavidez by this set of lopsided scores: 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.
I watched the fight and had it 114-114. Benavidez appeared to lose one of the first six rounds, and then the last five as Gvozdyk came out strong with power punches against the tired ‘Mexican Monster’. So, if the Benavidez-Morrell fight goes to the scorecards, will Morrell be given similar treatment? Does he need a knockout to win against the popular Benavidez with his big fanbase in Nevada and the crowd on his side at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?
The Cuban school
“Everyone thinks Benavidez will win by TKO, but I think Morrell comes from Cuba and Cuba are very strong boxers. It’s a national sport for boxing,” said Mairis Briedis on his YouTube channel, analyze the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell fight on February 1.
“Morrell is a very intelligent man, a young man, and he can fight at long distances or as a puncher. This is two punchers who meet in the ring. My prediction, I think Morrell. They show something new for Benavidez. A speed, strong punches, and some interesting Cuban techniques.
“My prediction is that I think Morrell wins by unanimous decision. Benavidez has fought stronger opponents than Morrell. I mean, Morrell hasn’t fought very strong guys. I hope Morrell wins by unanimous decision.
In the United States, there is a small policy. Because because he (Benavidez) comes from the USA, and his fans come from the USA. Morrell is a Cuban man, and what he has been doing since childhood is boxing.”
Morrell has been fighting since he was a kid in Cuba against better fighters than Benavidez. He also had a tougher life than Benavidez. His education, along with his superior speed, power, athletic ability and technical skills, gives him a tremendous advantage in this fight.
“The winner (of Benavidez vs. Morrell) will fight Beterbiev or Bivol. Benavidez-Morrell will be a very tough fight, and the next step is the tougher fight against Beterbiev or Bivol,” Briedis said.
