Morrell Jr.’s Manager Eyes Benavidez Bout, Agbeko Questions Morrell KO And Drug Testing
Luis Decubas, David Morrell Jr.’s manager, has accused David Benavidez of avoiding his fighter.
Morrell Jr. is coming off a second-round stoppage win over Sena Agbeko, which took his record to 10-0 with 9 KOs. The narrative heading into the fight was that Morrell wanted Benavidez if he came out victorious. The Mexican Monster, however, is trying to secure a lucrative fight with Canelo Alvarez.
He is the WBC interim champion at 168, a position he maintained after stopping Demetrius Andrade after round six. There is talk about a Canelo fight on Cinco de Mayo weekend or Mexican Independence Day. But if the fight does not happen, there are calls for Benavidez to face Morrell. The Mexican Monster has suggested Jermall Charlo as an alternative, raising suggestions that he is avoiding Morrell.
Decubas On Morrell
“We’ve been talking for the last year, and we wanted to make the fight. We had November 25th, and we were ready to go. He [Morrell] knocked out [Yamaguchi] Falcão, and he [Benavidez ran for the hills. That’s what happened. We don’t have to do it anymore.
“If he [Benavidez] doesn’t fight Canelo, everybody in boxing wants to see this fight. The fans aren’t stupid. They know this is the guy. Read the comments. The people that pay to watch the fights. 80% of the people got this guy as the winner [against Benavidez]. Why do you think they’re avoiding us? Because they’re afraid. ‘I’ll go up to 175 and fight Bivol.’ That’s what he said,” Decubas said
Unlike Canelo or Charlo, Morrell Jr. is not a big enough name as a commercial draw. With only ten fights, none of which have been against huge names, Morrell has much to do before securing those fights. Just as Benavidez has done, it makes sense to fight the other names in the division.
Fights against Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade are possible, boosting his chances of getting Benavidez. But since those would be against former world champions, it is no guarantee that Morrell will come through.
Outside of that, Morrell’s last opponent, Agbeko, has questioned the WBA ‘Regular’ champion’s decision to fight in Minnesota, not Las Vegas, where there is no drug testing. The Ghanaian alleges that this move appeared odd to him, raising concerns over whether there was a performance-enhancing drug problem.
“We both signed a document to be drug tested by WADA, and none of that happened. There was no testing by the Commission before or after the fight. They explicitly stated that the Commission wasn’t required to do the testing, and they chose not to do any testing for this fight. I think there’s something up in that regard.
“My biggest issue with him as a fighter was the drug testing, and I believe there’s something going on with that team. The need to have me come here and fight in Minnesota. They avoided fighting me in Vegas, but they were happy to fight me in Minnesota, where there’s no drug testing. It’s not that I would have had any means of cheating, but come on.
“You make me sign a contract for WADA testing, and then there’s no testing whatsoever. So, it feels like it was a setup. Absolutely, 100%, I think he’s on something because in the fight in April [against Yamaguchi Falcao], we saw a lot of acne on his face and on his back, and I definitely think he’s on something,” Agbeko stated
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