LAS VEGAS — The tension between David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. has reached a boiling point, mirroring the famous back-and-forth rivalry that characterized the buildup to the Gervonta “Tank” Davis versus Ryan Garcia fight almost two years ago. Although the animosity seems authentic, there’s an element of hype at play according to Benavidez, making it challenging to determine what’s genuine in the lead-up to their highly anticipated match this Saturday.
“This is what boxing truly needs,” stated Morrell’s trainer Ronnie Shields. “This fight represents the essence of boxing—the best competing against the best.” Benavidez, boasting an undefeated record of 29 wins with 24 knockouts, will defend his interim WBC title against Morrell, who sits at 11-0 with 9 KOs and will put his WBA title on the line as well.
Tensions flared last month in Miami when Morrell threw his belt at Benavidez, leading the latter to accuse Morrell of attempting to back out of their scheduled bout—a claim Morrell vehemently denied. “Why would I want to cancel this fight when I fought so hard to be here?” Morrell replied.
Benavidez, hailing from Phoenix and currently residing in Las Vegas, is likely to come out aggressively against Morrell. The 28-year-old has demonstrated that he can maintain stamina throughout the fight, having won two of his last three contests by unanimous decision. Meanwhile, Morrell, who emigrated from Cuba and now lives in Minneapolis, has consistently been a formidable opponent since turning professional in 2019. His latest victory on August 3, a close but clear decision win over Radivoje Kalajdzic, has positioned him for this encounter with Benavidez. Morrell has even promised to secure a knockout victory. “I’m 100% knocking out David Benavidez,” he declared through an interpreter.
During a press conference on Thursday, both fighters exchanged barbs and even stood to confront each other before being separated. Benavidez launched into a heated tirade, directing pointed remarks at the sitting Morrell. “I’m going to beat the (stuff) out of you,” he proclaimed. “When you step into the ring this Saturday, you’re going to see exactly what I’m made of.”
Morrell expressed no fear about facing Benavidez, who is the favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook with odds of -225. “To this point, everyone he’s faced has either been on the verge of retirement or had to adjust their weight,” Morrell commented. “I want to put an end to the myth that he’s an unbeatable monster.”
Similarly, Davis and Garcia engaged in a verbal showdown before their bout, but afterwards, they displayed mutual respect. “We talked a lot of trash leading into the fight, but it’s all love at the end of the day,” Garcia said following his match with Davis. The question remains whether Benavidez and Morrell will find common ground after their match concludes this weekend.
“It’s all part of the fight hype,” Benavidez acknowledged. “We challenge each other verbally, but when the bell rings, we’ll both be in that ring, and I intend to show him who I really am this Saturday.”
Additionally, WBC featherweight titleholder Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1) is set to take on former unified champion Stephen Fulton Jr. (22-1) in the co-main event, a rematch from their majority decision in favor of Fulton back on November 27, 2021.
