Undefeated light heavyweight stars David “El Monstro” Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. went face-to-face Tuesday at a press conference in Los Angeles before they meet for Benavidez’s WBC interim title and Morrell’s WBA regular title in the main event of a Prime Video PPV taking place Saturday, February 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
David Benavidez: “Morrell has been talking about me for a while and disrespecting me. He wanted to make it personal with me, so I’m personally going to break his mouth. That’ll give him something to remember me by…he thinks he’s big and bad, but he’s nothing. I’m gonna show him who’s the best on February 1.”
David Morrell: “I’m getting the knockout. 100%. He’s all talk and no bite. He can’t do what he thinks he’s gonna do…he has no idea what he’s talking about, but he’s provoking me and now I want to go out there and beat the crap out of him. I’m here now and none of that talk matters.”
That press conference has me fired up. Morrell was calling out Benavidez 6 fights in his career. has said from the beginning he wanted this fight. 11 wins 0 losses with 9 kOs (81% KO ratio) vs Benavidez 29 wins 0 losses (82% KO ratio) with a little bad blood for each other. This has fight of the year written all over it. Pitbull is on the card which is all the explanation you need. Stephen Fulton, nice guy in real life. Hoping he put on a great performance and bounces back. This is how you start off 2025.
Great fight, ridiculous belts.
After the Jake Paul/Tyson charade, it’s nice to be treated to a megafight like this! It’s really a mystery who will win. I gotta go with Morrell on this for no other reason than he’s my guy.
In the internet age, people will need to train themselves to ignore grifters like Jake Paul. It’s the only reliable way to deal with them. Prioritise craft and authenticity over noisy rhetoric and ‘content’.
That being said, I think the smart money is on Benavidez. My loyalty and hopes are with Morrell, because I love the way he boxes, but Benavidez has shown and proved against much better competition. Morrell has put on a clinic and showcased against everybody he’s fought, until he stepped up in weight and comp level against Kalajdzic- where he looked less than spectacular. Matching these guys styles, I can’t imagine this fight being boring, although neither of them will be able to get off like they usually do.
Benavidez in 2!
This is a serious fight. I like David but I think Morrell may give him the toughest fight of his career.
Exactly my opinion. And show me another fighter who desperately wants to fight a monster like Benavidez for years.
I can’t wait for this one! The undercard looks good as well. Morrell is a legit bad ass. I can’t pick a winner but I’m guessing the betting odds will be tight.
Both didn’t look too great at 175, but if we go by ” styles make fights ” this is a terrific matchup that with two fearless guys with power and willing to engage. I go Benavidez by late stoppage
The great thing is they’re both moving up into 175 at the same time and facing each other right off. If they’re still adjusting to 175, it won’t be excusable as an excuse or an issue because they’re both adjusting equally. This fight gives a real insight as to who holds the keys to the future at Light heavyweight.
Morrell by KO
Benavidez is in for a rude awakening.
He hasn’t broken ANYONE’S jaw so far.
Morrell couldn’t ko Kalajdzic. Same with Benavidez, Gvozdyk was totally unimpressed by his power. But ok, styles make fights. Lets see…
I don’t like Benavides because, he has no techniques. But I hopes he shuts this big mouth bouncing c
Great matchup! Equadorian volume puncher vs. Cuban technician. Very evenly matched, so no prediction here.
Morrell is about to show everyone what a hype job Benavidez is. He won’t be looking to call out Canelo or anybody after he gets shut down.
How is David a hype job? He has beaten some top-quality fighters.
Great matchup, but I wish they would dump those phony belts. That diminishes the fight to me.
@Wildman, come on man. It’s the unification of interim titles. So it will pave the way to having unified champions and unified interim champions.
How about “interim champions at recess?”
Cowboy Tex, unified?
The winner shall be crowned “King David”
Not another belt!!!!
I don’t just look at his 11 pro fights, his Cuban amateur pedigree goes back to his early years. All of that experience will be on full display against DB on Feb.1st. Morrell by decision but it wouldn’t surprise me if he stops him late…. 2 pros in their prime battling it out, we the fan’s should be so lucky. I’m very much looking forward to this 1…
I say fk the belts and just look at this fight for what it is. Two men in their prime, undefeated, knockout artists risking it all. May the best man win. Hard to predict at this point. I like both.
look, a matchup between 2 tops guys, that the fans want to see. take note Canelo
Hats off to both these guys fighting the best. Give great prestige to the name “David”