Benavidez Vs. Morrell: ‘Dark Baating’ in the making?

Trainer Greg Hackett says David Benavides will use his experience and body shots to defeat David Morrell on February 1st. Hackett sees this as a competitive fight for the first five rounds, with Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) looking good, but Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) will take the fight and break him down.

Hackett shares the opinion of many that Benavidez has too much pro experience for the 26-year-old Morrell to handle.

Although Morrell has fought many times as an amateur against better fighters than Benavidez has faced in the pros, he has not had the experience of fighting longer fights. Only three of Morel’s matches have reached the 12th round in his five-year career.

Benavidez-Morel will meet in 38 days at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be shown live on PBC on Prime Video PPV. Morrell will defend his ‘regular’ WBA light heavyweight title in his second contest at 175. Benavidez will have his interim WBC belt on the line.

Benavides’ aggressive style

“He tried to hit him with the belt.” “That was crazy,” Greg Hackett said ISM Sports Media about how David Morrell tried to hit David Benavidez with his VBA belt after he pushed him in their media training session.

“They know that each other is a threat and a lot depends on that.” Both have something to prove as they are in a new weight class. Some like Morel and some like Benavidez. You always know it’s a high-intensity fight because your coaches are involved in the camp.

“Look for a real firefight.” Look for Morrell to try all his tricks, and look for Benavides to dig deep and go to that body and really try to rip it. I think it’s a little too early for Morel. I pick Benavidez all day. “I think he’s the more experienced, meaner fighter and more tested fighter,” Hackett said.

It won’t be easy for Benavidez to target Morel’s body because he moves and has a wicked left hand, making him a risk for the Mexican monster. He’ll try to go to the body, but he might regret it later if Morel cuts him.

Coach predicts ‘grim beatings’

“Morell will look good in the top five.” Maybe the first three before I see them turn, but I say the first five, he (Morrell) will look good. Then Benavidez will start to look more and more, he looks scary. It’s getting dark. “It’s going to be one of those dark beatings,” Hackett said.

Morel was at his best in the early rounds of his August 3 fight against ‘Hot Rod’ Radivoj Kalajdzic, but seemed to slow down in the second half. However, Morrell was still throwing power even in the championship rounds. Kalajdžić held his own, which saved him from many hard shots down the stretch.

Benavidez doesn’t hold back, and his defense is his offense. Morrell can do a lot of damage against that type of fighter, and could even knock him out if Benavidez gets caught off guard.