What’s Next For Benavidez And Morrell?

February 3, 2025
1 week
What's Next For Benavidez And Morrell?

David Benavidez defeated David Morrell Jr. to put himself in a mandatory position to face either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol as we look at their next steps.

Benavidez secured a unanimous decision win to extend his record to 30-0. It was his second victory at 175 pounds since moving up from light heavyweight. More importantly, he retained his WBC Interim Light Heavyweight Championship belt. He added Morrell’s WBA interim title to his collection. Beterbiev and Bivol are set to fight on February 22 in a rematch of their undisputed light heavyweight clash. Benavidez is expected to face the winner, knowing that he is potentially one fight away from making history.

Benavidez And Canelo

The Mexican Monster also knows that he has the potential to secure the Canelo Alvarez fight if he can become undisputed. Alvarez has already become undisputed at 168 pounds, meaning there is more incentive for him to face Benavidez at 175. Canelo may ultimately take that fight based on what he had seen from the Morrell bout. Morrell was able to trouble Benavidez, dropping him in the 11th round. While it was a flash knockdown with Benavidez being off balance, Canelo would fancy himself to pounce on the Mexican Monster if he was in a similar situation. 

Morrell faces a tough task as he will have to go back to the drawing board. He also moved up to 175 pounds after failing to get the Canelo fight at 168. He showed a lot of heart in managing to stick with Benavidez for the full 12 rounds. However, the lack of experience in the pro ranks was telling. 
In the latter part of the fight, Benavidez started to assert his control. Morrell simply could not get a foothold. And while he did have some success, he was taking a lot of shots on his way to landing.

What’s Next?

Morrell has a decision to make as to whether he goes back down to 168. If he were to go back down to 168, there are plenty of fights out there for him. Names such as Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga, Caleb Plant and Christian Mbilli are all possibilities. But if he were to stay 175 pounds, he would potentially have to work himself from the bottom of the division. The ultimate prize for Benavidez and Morrell was the Canelo fight. If the Mexican Monster becomes undisputed, there will be more calls for him to make that fight. 

“I don’t know [If I will fight Canelo]. You guys keep asking me about that fight and I know as much as you guys do. I would love that fight. I’d love to fight Canelo. It would be a massive, massive fight. But he says he has other things and that I’m being too mean in the way I approach him, so I guess I have to work on my attitude. I’d love to go [to Saudi]. Right now I just want a break because I’ve been training four and a half months preparing for this fight,” Benavidez said

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING boxingnews.COM

TAGS
COMMENTS

RELATED NEWS