LAS VEGAS – The toughest work is over. All that is still for David Morrell Jnr earlier than his Saturday pay-per-view most important occasion versus fellow unbeaten gentle heavyweight David Benavidez is the pageantry of a exercise, a face-off and a weigh-in.
On Wednesday, as Cuba’s Morrell, 11-0 (9 KOs), strode via the MGM Grand with solely a sparse entourage, he envisioned how it will all change ought to he execute the struggle plan he’s satisfied will topple the “Mexican Monster” thought-about the game’s most-avoided man.
“That is my alternative to show everybody who the true boogeyman of the sunshine heavyweight division is,” Morrell instructed BoxingScene as he headed towards his public exercise.
At simply 27, Morrell would acquire not solely an enormous enhance of recognition by knocking off Benavidez but in addition elevate to grow to be an under-30 drive and near inside one extra victory of turning into undisputed gentle heavyweight champion.
The winner of Saturday’s struggle has been promised a shot on the winner of the February 22 undisputed gentle heavyweight title between unbeaten champion Artur Beterbiev, of Russia, and countryman and former champion Dmitry Bivol.
“It’s a nice alternative for me and the folks of Cuba, as effectively,” Morrell stated. “After this struggle, if I get a knockout, it opens the door for the Cuban folks. I really feel nice. My crew, my coach have supported me and so they’re telling me, ‘You bought this.’ When my crew says that, I do know I obtained this. I really feel grateful for this chance.”
Morrell’s promoter, Luis DeCubas Snr, elaborated on the constructive vibes in no unsure phrases.
“We’re able to struggle. We’re going to knock this motherfucker out, I’m telling you,” DeCubas stated.
DeCubas stated he by no means thought the bout between two of Premier Boxing Champions’ greatest abilities would transpire after Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz dismissed it almost 5 years in the past, following Morrell’s full dominance of 23-fight veteran Lennox Allen in a 12-round bout – simply Morrell’s third professional struggle.
“You’re solely going to see [Benavidez] in photos,” Lewkowicz instructed DeCubas.
However as each males have been bypassed by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at tremendous middleweight, every moved up and locked eyes on one another, resulting in a promotion laced with mutual disdain.
Whereas Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), boasts hellacious, relentless energy, Morrell is a Cuban-educated pugilist blessed with artistic, damaging abilities.
“It’s what we’ve been in search of,” DeCubas stated. “He’s prepared. I used to be in camp with him. He’s sparred with the most effective guys potential. He’s able to kick ass. It’s essential for him to win. He’s going to win.
“Nice sparring … like Roberto Duran, Wilfredo Gomez, [Joel] Casamayor at all times instructed me: sparring and operating. All the things else is bullshit. I can’t see [Benavidez] going the space with him. If he does, he has an excellent chin and I’ll actually respect him.”
Morrell is aware of the expectation is Benavidez will impose his will on the Cuban.
“There’s at all times going to be opinions from all people,” Morrell stated. “I’ve my opinion, too.”
Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. author and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has coated boxing for the reason that early 2000s, first on the Los Angeles Instances after which at The Athletic and USA Immediately. He gained the Boxing Writers’ Affiliation of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for profession excellence.
