David Benavidez celebrates his birthday in a unique way

Most people celebrate their birthdays with cake and candles, as well as some presents surrounded by loved ones. For David Benavidez, however, his 28th birthday was spent promoting his upcoming February 1 fight with David Morrell Jnr during a media workout in Miami which felt closer to a sparring session than a media event.

The two light heavyweights are set to headline Premier Boxing Champions’ first pay-per-view card of 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and tensions boiled over as soon as Benavidez entered the gym. Morrell declined Benavidez’s handshake during their first face-off, keeping his hands at his waist. Benavidez, 28 today, took off his designer shades, words were exchanged, and the birthday boy Benavidez shoved Morrell. Morrell responded by then launching his title belt at Benavidez’s head, narrowly missing his mark.

That was just the beginning. 

“I tried to keep it respectful, and he said he’s going to fuck me up,” Benavidez said at Tuesday’s media workout. “So I pushed his ass back.”

Fans and media members braced as a typical boring event became rather entertaining. The pair were then brought together again, as Morrell changed his clothes for the face-to-face press conference-type media event, this time to trade verbal jabs. Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs) didn’t hold back.

“It didn’t get personal. It’s been personal,” Benavidez said. “On February 1, I’m going to break your fucking mouth.”

Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), who trains with Ronnie Shields, spoke passionately in Spanish. He mocked Benavidez’s style and footwork, sarcastically dubbing him “RoboCop” and even mimicking him in an insulting manner on stage.

Morrell claimed he refused to shake Benavidez’s hand due to feeling disrespected at their previous press conference. Benavidez wasn’t buying it, though. He pointed out that Morrell shook his hand after that same press conference. At today’s media workout, Benavidez added that Morrell even wished him a happy birthday on Premier Boxing Champions’ social media page. Benavidez, ever the showman, translated for the crowd with a smirk: “He says I’m an easy fight.” 

Benavidez remained unbothered, firing back with confidence.

“I suck, I’m a bum, I’m a RoboCop, that’s fine,” Benavidez said. “You better not have any fucking excuses after I knock you the fuck out in front of your people. What are you going to say? You’re going to say, ‘David Benavidez is the best,’ just like everybody else I fought before you. They all say the same shit; I’m RoboCop; I have no defense; I have no footwork and this and that. But after they get in the ring with me, it’s a whole different story.”