David Morrell will be taking a big step up in his level of competition when he faces David Benavidez on February 1. But Morrell says the reverse is also true.
“He’s never faced someone like me,” Morrell said in a press release. “Come fight night, he’s going to realize that I’m faster, stronger and smarter than anyone he’s ever stepped in the ring with.”
Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), is more proven in the professionals. He entered the paid ranks in 2013, is a former super middleweight titleholder, and has scored victories over the likes of Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade. In June, Benavidez moved up to light heavyweight and defeated former lineal champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the WBC’s interim light heavyweight belt.
Morrell, 11-0 (9 KOs), was moved quickly during his own time at super middleweight after turning pro in 2019. Morrell held the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt for a spell at 168lbs. While the opponents he beat along the way were less accomplished than those Benavidez faced, Morrell blasted through Mario Cazares, Alantez Fox, Yamaguchi Falcao and Sena Agbeko. In August, he outpointed Radivoje Kalajdzic and was awarded the WBA’s secondary “regular” belt.
While the four major world titles at 175lbs are held by Artur Beterbiev – and tied up in his upcoming rematch with Dmitry Bivol – Benavidez and Morrell are jockeying to be seen as the top remaining contender.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. It’s the fight that changes everything,” said Morrell, a 26-year-old originally from Cuba and now living in the United States. “A win over Benavidez doesn’t just put me at the top – it solidifies me as one of the best fighters in the world. After this fight, there will be no question who the king of the division is. I’m ready to take that crown.”
The two fighters have been jawing at each other. Whether the bad blood is real or not, it’s helping sell their fight, which airs on pay-per-view via Amazon’s Prime Video, PPV.com and traditional cable and satellite services.
“He’s been running his mouth, calling me out and disrespecting my name,” Morrell said. “That’s fine with me, because words won’t save him when we’re face to face in the ring. All this trash talk just fuels me. He’s going to regret every word when I make him eat his pride, punch by punch.”
But Morrell also is complimentary of Benavidez and what it will take to beat him.
“This camp has been brutal, and I love it,” he said at one point. “Ronnie [Shields, his trainer] has pushed me harder than ever before, both mentally and physically. Every day in Texas I’ve been sharpening my tools, because I know nothing less than perfection will beat Benavidez. I’m ready to show the world what real work looks like.”
“Benavidez is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in boxing, so when I beat him, everyone will see what I’m capable of,” Morrell said at another point. “People call him ‘The Mexican Monster,’ but I’m not scared of monsters – I hunt them down!”
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