David Benavidez vs David Morrell Preview
David Benavidez and David Morrell clash on February 1st at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. It is a highly anticipated bout for the interim WBC and WBA regular title. Both men moved up a division to claim gold at light heavyweight in 2024 and now look toward a unification bout against Artur Beterbiev.
David Morrell has experienced a lightning-quick ascendancy to world champion level. He has won 11 fights in a row with an 81.82% knockout rating. Benavidez has enjoyed success over an extended period in several divisions. He enters this bout with 29 wins and zero defeats. Is he the man to stop Morrell in his tracks, or will the WBA champion continue to prove his doubters wrong?
David Benavidez vs David Morrell Predictions
Fight prediction: Benavidez via KO/TKO
David Morrell has wasted no time making a name for himself as a professional boxer. The former World Youth Champion won his first world title in his third pro fight and became a two-weight champion in his 11th and most recent bout. The 27-year-old has proven his worth in his ascendancy to the top and is a force to be reckoned with in two divisions. However, the Cuban now faces his toughest test on his quest for more gold at light heavyweight.
David Benavidez is also a two-weight world champion after claiming light heavyweight gold last June, moving up from super middleweight. The Mexican Monster had a more typical journey than his opponent but has also proven to be a formidable opponent. His experience advantage is important in these fights and he boasts wins over top fighters like Caleb Plant and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Benavidez is eyeballing a fight with Artur Beterbiev and this interim title fight is his ticket. Our boxing prediction is for Benavidez to win on Saturday.
Benavidez’s biggest assets heading into this fight are his stamina and volume punching. The Mexican Monster overwhelms his opponents with smart combinations in bunches. He will pressure Morrell in this fight, walking him down and pushing him against the ropes and into corners. His speed is spectacular for his size and Morrell will struggle to stay out of his way as his pressure-fighting style breaks him down.
Both fighters carry knockout power, but Benavidez has been proving himself for longer than Morrell, and against better opponents. He has 24 knockout victories from 29 bouts compared to nine from 11 for Morrell. Benavidez’s stamina and conditioning will help him soften Morrell up as he pressures him, before unloading with huge power punches. Morrell has never been dragged through murky waters by a pressure fighter of Benavidez’s calibre. This could be a baptism of fire for the Cuban fighter.
Undoubtedly, David Morrell is here on merit, regardless of his speedrun through divisions. His reflexes lend excellently to the counter-punching style he will probably have to adopt in this fight, as does his head movement and ability to slip punches. He also carries power of his own. While it may not be comparable to his opponent’s, a tired Benavidez could get caught in the latter rounds.
Benavidez also has some defensive lapses in fights. He is an offensive juggernaut but can leave himself open in his hunt for the finish. The champ often relies on his granite chin, absorbing punches and bouncing back to land power punches of his own. Morrell’s sharp counter-punching could catch Benavidez and he may need to change his defensive approach to stop himself from getting tagged.
However, Morrell’s relative inexperience at the highest level could be a factor. While he’s faced quality opposition, he hasn’t yet been in the ring with someone as formidable as Benavidez. The Mexican has the endurance and offensive ferocity to push the action for 12 rounds.
However, we think Benavidez will continue to apply pressure while avoiding Morrell’s punches. He can wear the Cuban down before finding a late stoppage. Morrell has to establish a rhythm early to avoid being overwhelmed, but Benavidez is simply too experienced to allow his opponent to get there.
David Benavidez vs David Morrell Fight Outcome
This fight is going to be a clash of styles, with one man pushing the pace and the other looking for openings as a counter-puncher. Benavidez will look to set the tone early and use his volume punching style to take control of the ebb and flow of the bout. Morrell will need to use his speed and defence to avoid attacks, catching the Mexican-American after slips. However, Benavidez’s experience will shine through here.
He will wear Morrell down, hunting for the finish. If Morrell can weather the early storm, keep his distance and begin to establish a rhythm, then he can take control of the fight as the rounds progress. However, Benavidez has unbreakable stamina and conditioning and his aggression will overwhelm his opponent. Expect a hard-fought battle, but Benavidez has been doing this long enough to see through Morrell’s game plan on his way to victory.
David Benavidez vs David Morrell Betting Tips
Fight Winner
David Benavidez is the odds-on favourite for this fight. His experience advantage is blatant despite the similarity in age between these fighters. This style clash will be interesting, but we think Morrell cannot deal with Benavidez’s aggression. A Benavidez victory is worth 8/17 for anyone betting on boxing.
Although we favour Benavidez, Morrell deserves respect. The reason his ascendancy has been so fast is down to his immense talent. His counter-punching style lends itself to this clash and he could catch Benavidez, whose defence is far from perfect. A bet on Morrell is worth 7/5 if you think the Cuban can upset the odds.
Method of Victory
The method of victory shows a lot more value than a straight bet on the match result. Morrell has never been knocked out in his career, but he has never faced a fighter as aggressive and powerful as Benavidez. The Mexican-American will be looking to finish Morrell from the first bell.
We like a bet on Benavidez to win via KO/TKO, worth 10/3 with our online bookmaker. If you think Morrell can weather the storm and avoid a KO, but will still lose the fight, you can bet on Benavidez to win by decision at 13/10.
Grouped Round Betting
Benavidez can win this fight in the later rounds after wearing Morrell down with his pressure-fighting. Four of his previous six fights have ended between rounds seven and 11. Another ended after a retirement in the sixth. We like a bet on Benavidez to win in rounds 7-12, worth 6/1.
David Benavidez vs David Morrell Head-To-Head and Key Stats
David Morrell made his professional debut in 2019 after an excellent amateur career in which he became a World Youth Champion and Cuban National Champion. The Minnesota native began his pro career in the US and experienced an incredible rise. He earned a WBA interim super-middleweight title opportunity in his third fight, facing Lennox Allen at the Microsoft Theatre. Morrell won dominantly, with the judges’ scorecards reading 120–108, 119–109, and 118–110.
He defended his title six times before moving up to light-heavyweight in 2024 in a hunt for further gold. Morrell got his wish, facing Radivoje Kalajdzic in August 2024 for the vacant WBA light-heavyweight title. The Cuban won dominantly yet again to become a champion in two divisions after 11 professional fights.
Standing at 6’1” with a 78½” reach, Morrell will have a four-inch reach advantage over Benavidez. The WBA champion is a southpaw with elite boxing skills. His versatility and dynamism in the ring mean he can adapt to any opponent. Known for his speed, Morrell’s footwork and head movement is excellent and he is a feared counter-puncher. He enters this fight with a record of 11-0, winning nine of his fights via KO/TKO.
David Benavidez made his professional debut in 2013 and slowly rose the ranks, starting as a junior. The Mexican Monster earned his first world title fight in 2017 when he faced Ronald Gavril for the vacant WBC super middleweight title. He won an incredibly tight contest by split decision to become the youngest super middleweight champion in history. He set the record straight five months later, defeating Gavril by unanimous decision in his first defence. However, he tested positive for cocaine later that year and lost the title.
Benavidez returned in 2019 and quickly fought back to the top, reclaiming his title nearly a year after his suspension. His title was dispossessed through inactivity before he won it back for a third time, defeating the likes of Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade, and David Lemieux. He moved up to light heavyweight in 2024 and won the vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title in his first bout, seeing off Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision.
Standing at 6’1″ with a 74½” reach, Benavidez will give up a reach advantage to Morrell. The Mexican Monster has excellent conditioning and stamina, using it to overwhelm his opponents and pressure them until he finds a finish. He enters this fight with a record of 29-0, winning 24 fights via KO/TKO.
