LAS VEGAS — David Benavidez achieved a significant milestone in his boxing career by unifying the light heavyweight championship after securing a unanimous decision victory over David Morrell on Saturday night. With this win, Benavidez not only retained his interim WBC belt but also claimed the WBA title.
Judges for the bout, Patricia Morse Jarman and Steve Weisfeld, both had their scorecards reading 115-111, while Tim Cheatham’s score of 118-108 reflected Benavidez’s dominance in the ring, where he effectively controlled most of the fight, apart from a challenging third and 11th round.
“This is ‘El Monstro’s’ world,” exclaimed Benavidez, also known as The Mexican Monster. He acknowledged Morrell’s capabilities, stating, “I knew he’d be tough and that’s why I prepared so hard for this.” He celebrated the fight as a success for both himself and the audience, pleased to deliver an exciting performance.
Utilizing his reach and a diverse selection of punches, Benavidez struck effectively to both the head and body, persistently targeting Morrell’s eyes. According to CompuBox stats, he connected with 48% of his power punches, including a notable 76 body shots out of 224 landed overall.
“This is the biggest win of my career because of all the people who came out to support me,” Benavidez shared, underlining the importance of the victory. Despite appearing in control, Benavidez faced a brief scare in the 11th round when Morrell landed a surprising right hand that caused him to stumble and resulted in a knockdown ruling due to his gloves touching the canvas. Nonetheless, a point was deducted from Morrell for hitting Benavidez after the bell.
Benavidez remained composed post-fight, emphasizing his preparedness for any challenges Morrell presented. “I wasn’t surprised by anything he did. I knew my defense had to be strong. To be honest, I thought he would hit harder,” he reflected. “He was easier to hit than I expected. I capitalized on every opening.”
With this defeat, Morrell (11-1) faced the first loss of his professional career, having previously had a strong run since 2019. He commented on the bout, remarking, “It was a good fight. This is boxing; some days you win and some days you lose. Tonight was my turn. I’m young, and I’ll keep pushing for another opportunity.”
Benavidez, who hails from Phoenix yet resides in Las Vegas, had been favored at -350 by BetMGM Sportsbook leading into the match. “This is a dream come true for me,” he stated. “I want to be recognized as the best fighter of my era. I’m prepared for whoever is next and aim to unify all four titles.”
In the co-main event, Stephen Fulton Jr. (23-1) captured the WBC featherweight championship by outpointing champion Brandon Figueroa (25-2-1) in a unanimous decision. This victory marked the second time Fulton has triumphed over Figueroa, following their initial encounter, which he won by majority decision on November 27, 2021. Judges David Sutherland and Zachary Young both marked the fight 116-112, while Max DeLuca scored it 117-111 in favor of Fulton, while Figueroa had entered the match as a 3-to-1 favorite.
In another intense matchup, Isaac Cruz (27-3-1) managed to defeat Angel Fierro (23-3-2) in a 10-round super lightweight battle, winning via unanimous decision. The fighters engaged in a high-energy clash with a total of 486 punches landed from a combined 1,410 thrown. Judge Eric Cheek scored it 98-92 for Cruz, and the other two judges scored it 97-93 and 96-94.
Middleweight contender Jesus Ramos Jr. (22-1, 18 KOs) also shone in the ring, overwhelming Jeison Rosario (24-5-2) leading to a stoppage by referee Bob Hoyle in the eighth round. Ramos was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards before the fight was halted.
