DAVID Benavidez and David Morrell will face off at light-heavyweight on February 1 in the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. Given their respective approaches to the hurt game, the main event promises to be an absolute barnburner that will surely catch fire and turn into a classic.
The PBC promotional material sums it up perfectly: “Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David “El Monstro” Benavídez and WBA Light Heavyweight Champion David Morrell Jr. will meet in a battle of unbeatens that pits two of the sport’s most exciting fighters against each other in the primes of their careers.”
While both hold gaudy belts in a division that has a clear number one and number two (or 1.5 in Bivol’s case), these two are punching for third place and the chance to fight either Beterbiev or the winner of an undisputed rematch should it take place next.
Given his scintillating displays at super-middleweight, Morrell had become Mr Excitement, but he looked a little laboured in his last outing, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic on points in his 175-pound debut. To his credit, ‘Hot Rod’ is a solid world-level foe, and Morrell boxed for the majority of the contest with the Los Angeles sun in his eyes.
Benavidez, meanwhile, has already beaten Plant, Andrade and Gvozdyk. If he now scalps Morrell and still doesn’t manage to nail down a Canelo fight, then he’ll begin to wonder exactly what he has to do to land the biggest prize in boxing. Benavidez is the more seasoned of the two and if Morrell comes out all guns blazing early on, things could get a little dicey for the Cuban down the stretch.
The entire card will be broadcast on Prime Video pay-per-view and includes a solid undercard. Now campaigning as the full WBC featherweight champion, Brandon Figueroa will seek to reverse a loss to Stephen Fulton when they engage in a high-stakes rematch.
Isaac Cruz will look to bounce back from his loss at the hands of Jose Valenzuela by taking on twice-beaten Mexican puncher Angel Fierro. Jesus Ramos continues his rebuild after a shock defeat to Erickson Lubin by taking on former unified champion Jeison Rosario, who was last seen boxing Jarrett Hurd to a draw on Pro Box TV.