Benavidez Ready For Morrell; Morrell Welcomes Fight With Caleb Plant
David Benavidez’s trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr, has shut down suggestions that his fighter is ducking David Morrell Jr.
Morrell’s confidence is riding high following his stoppage win over Sena Agbeko in the second round. The performance was Showtime’s final card in boxing, showing Morrell can headline on the biggest stage. The win took his record to 10-0, with nine knockouts.
Before their fights, reports linked Benavidez with a fight against Morrell. It never got made as Benavidez faced Demetrius Andrade. The Mexican Monster stopped the two-weight world champion after round six. But there were suggestions from Morrell’s camp that Benavidez was avoiding the Cuban, which Sr has shut down.
Benavidez On Morrell
“I think David Morrell’s a great fighter but at the end of the day I think they should put him to fight fighters that are known that could take him into deep waters and see what he does. I think he should fight a Caleb Plant, he should fight an Anthony Dirrell, or maybe even ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade, and that’s the only way he’s going to get qualified to see if…… we’ll fight him right now. We’ll fight him right now; I think David [Benavidez] can stop him,” Benavidez Sr. said
Those comments have some validity, given that Benavidez is close to fighting Canelo Alvarez. The WBC interim champion has waited for his title shot for around two years. His win over Andrade has increased the chances of the fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend or Mexican Independence. A fight with Morrell at this stage makes no sense since the Cuban has no belts.
A loss against him would damage the chances of making the Benavidez fight. That is why a fight with the other big names in the division may be better for Morrell. He could face Andrade himself while taking on the former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb Plant. Wins against those names would boost his chances of getting Benavidez since it would show he can operate at world level. And by the looks of it, Morrell is happy to take on Plant.
Morrell On Plant
“I love Caleb Plant. He’s a great boxer. I respect him. If it’s next with him, OK, let’s go. You know, I’m ready. I’m not scared of anybody. I’m ready. He’s a good boxer and he’s a big name, too. He’s a very good fighter. If me and him fight, it’s nice. He moves, has defense, power. He’s a good boxer. … If tomorrow or next year they offer me Plant, I don’t have a problem with that,” Morrell stated
Plant has his eyes on Jermall Charlo instead, given their recent bad blood. Plant hit out at Charlo after the Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford weigh in. This was after Charlo had allegedly pulled his beard and disrespected him in front of his wife. Since then, Plant has called out Charlo. But Morrell could be an alternative if the fight is not made.
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