A potential contender for Fight of the Year opens the month when David Benavidez and David Morrell face off on February 1. The high-profile bout with be for the interim WBC and WBA (Regular) light heavyweight titles and air on Prime Video.
Benavidez (29-0) is a two-time WBC super middleweight champion and a former interim champion. He has only lost gold following failed drug tests and missing weight. The 28-year-old moved to light heavyweight and beat Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the interim WBC belt.
Morrell (11-0) won the interim WBA (Regular) super middleweight title in 2020 and was later elevated to full-time champion in 2021. He beat Radivoje Kalajdzic in August to win the WBA (Regular) light heavyweight title.
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Both do not like one another, almost coming to blows several times before fight night. Benavidez has been a force for a while and looks to prove his skills trump Morrell’s.
“He thinks he’s big and bad, but he’s nothing. I’m gonna show him who’s the best,” Benavidez said via CBS Sports. “These are the type of fighters I want to fight. I want to face guys who think that they’re going to go in there and knock me out. He’s never fought anyone like me, and I’m going to show everyone there’s levels to this.”
Meanwhile, Morrell is a rising star ready to advance past Benavidez, putting “The Monster” behind him and the division.
“This is my opportunity to teach everyone who the real boogeyman of the light heavyweight division is,” Morrell told BoxingScene.
The Sporting News looks at the odds for this fight and makes a final prediction.
David Benavidez vs. David Morrell betting odds
Per the FanDuel Sportsbook, David Benavidez is the -230 favorite, while David Morrell is the +176 underdog.
David Benavidez vs. David Morrell betting trends
Via the FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Benavidez via KO/TKO: +280
- Benavidez via decision: +115
- Morrell via KO/TKO: +600
- Morrell via decision: +290
- Draw: +1500
David Benavidez vs. David Morrell odds, prediction
Benavidez ranks fifth among active fighters with a +/- of +16.5. He ranks eighth in average title punches landed per round at 22.9 and second in total connect percentage at 37.9%.
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Benavidez’s power is something else. He decimated Demetrius Andrade in his last super middleweight fight, landing 117 of 336 shots (34.8). After landing eleven power punches in the first three rounds, he landed 91 in the next three, landing 40 strikes in the fifth.
That power has successfully transferred over at 175.
In his light heavyweight debut against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Benavidez landed 223 of 521 shots (42.8%) compared to Gvozdyk’s 163 shots from 699 attempts (23.3%). The former only landed double-digit shots and landed 20+ strikes five times.
Morrell landed 134 of 469 shots (28.6%) against Radivoje Kalajdzic, who landed 102 of 408 shots (25%). There were times he put his foot off the gas but managed to land more power shots. His fight against Sena Agbeko, the last at super middleweight, was a better indication of what he could do when he took Agbeko out in two rounds.
Benavidez can give a punch and has often been hit by a few. However, he makes sure to remind people he can hit harder. He has the speed and power to take down anyone in his path, sometimes overwhelming them. That may be the case against Morrell.
Morrell has the reach advantage, but his experience is lacking. Benavidez is ready for a firefight. Morrell could also be, but can he last against someone who likely won’t move back?
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It is tough to say whether Morrell can match well with Benavidez as Caleb Plant did in 2023. Benavidez had trouble in the first half of the fight but recovered and outlanded Plant 161-46 in rounds seven through twelve. Morrell must have a picture-perfect performance.
The first half of the fight could be relatively even, but when they get to the later rounds, The Sporting News believes Benavidez will take over for a decision win. One thing is certain: it should be a fight to remember.
Sporting News prediction: Benavidez via unanimous decision
