By Joseph Herron: The highly anticipated showdown to crown boxing’s next superstar, titled “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell,” is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 1, 2025. The main event pits two undefeated fighters, David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and David Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9 KOs), against each other in a clash that has already sparked a fiery war of words between the camps.
Adding to the mounting anticipation, renowned boxing trainer James Gogue, who has five decades of experience in the sport, recently assessed the stakes on the W.A.W. BOXING podcast. While Benavidez is currently the slight betting favorite (-180) at most sportsbooks, Gogue believes the Phoenix native faces a formidable challenge.
“David Morrell Jr. is an incredibly gifted fighter,” Gogue remarked. “You could see his natural talent from the moment he made his pro debut five years ago. He’s an explosive puncher with both hands, has exceptional hand and foot speed, quick reflexes, and excellent hand-eye coordination. His ability to switch seamlessly between orthodox and southpaw stances makes him dangerous in any situation. On top of that, his timing, understanding of range and distance, and versatility—whether fighting from mid-range, long-range, or in close quarters—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’s got a deep amateur pedigree,” Gogue explained. “He’s faced just about every style imaginable in the amateurs. Add that to his natural athleticism and the guidance of Ronnie Shields, one of the most experienced trainers in boxing, and he doesn’t need 40 pro fights to take on the best in the division.”
Ronnie Shields, Morrell’s Hall of Fame-bound trainer, echoed these sentiments during his own podcast, “Real Boxing with Ronnie Shields.”
“David Morrell Jr. is the most athletically gifted fighter in boxing today,” Shields asserted. “He’s ready to humble David Benavidez on February 1. The real question fans should be asking is whether fighters like Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol, and Artur Beterbiev are ready for Morrell.”
While Morrell’s skills and potential are widely acknowledged, Gogue highlighted a critical unknown heading into this career-defining bout.
“There’s so much 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’ll handle adversity or how strong his chin is. In boxing, there’s an old saying: never get too high on a prospect until you see how well they can take a punch. We’ll likely get that answer on February 1 when he faces someone like Benavidez, who’s 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 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 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
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