David Morrell Jnr is thrust into the spotlight and the boxing world is feeling it.
A routine media workout in Miami on Tuesday to promote his Feb. 1 fight with undefeated David Benavidez quickly descended into chaos, a move that raised eyebrows and Injecting real heat into an otherwise predictable scene.
Over the past few years, Morel has been viewed as a boogeyman in boxing, a high-risk, low-reward enigma that most fighters can easily avoid. The fast-developing Cuban boxer Morel was too dangerous to face but too unknown to be worth the risk, and he was never considered a prospect. In three games, he fought 12-round opponents.
Now, with a career-defining fight against Benavidez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Morel is finally reaching his prime moment: two undefeated superstars. The heavyweights were promoted to light heavyweights, each facing down the toughest opponents of their careers.
Morel’s brother set the stage with fiery rhetoric, prompting Morel to grin and say at the end of practice: “He’s talking shit; he’s talking shit; he’s lying.” I swear, too. . Mexican music was playing as Benavidez entered, wearing designer clothes and sunglasses, and offered to shake Morel’s hand. Morel stood expressionless, arms at his sides. Navidez took off his sunglasses, showed a smile, and secretly Showing more fight than kindness, it happened seconds later when Benavidez shoved Morel, who had thrown the title belt he had posed to Benavid just minutes earlier. Des, Benavidez dodges it and security rushes to separate the two.
takeout? This is not theater. This is not marketing. Here are two men, fearful, avoidant, proud, realizing they have finally met their match.
Morrell, who has an 11-0 record (9 KOs), will compete at light heavyweight for the second time in his career. He made his 175-pound debut against Radivoje “Hot Rod” Karadzic in August at BMO Arena in Los Angeles, ending a seven-fight knockout streak. Morell’s aggressive style had him looking for takedowns early on, but he became visibly tired in the second half of the fight.
To understand what’s coming, you have to reexamine the super middleweight landscape Morel enters. Morel turned professional in August 2019. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez dominated the division and became the undisputed champion, while David Benavidez relentlessly pursued a fight with Alvarez. That matchup never materialized, and Morel, looking for a big fight, set his sights on Benavidez, and now, both fighters have gained weight, all but shutting down Alvarez-Benavidez. door. Also unveiling one of the most exciting matchups of the year.
“This is my moment,” Morel said in English during Tuesday’s training. “I’m very excited for February 1st.”
Benavidez, 29-0 (21 KOs), is currently training in Miami. In his last fight, he made his light heavyweight debut and defeated former title holder Oleksandr Gvozdyk via unanimous decision. Prior to that, Benavidez cemented himself as one of boxing’s elite with dominant wins over former champions Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade in the super middleweight division. status of one. Both matches are pay-per-view headliners.
Morel looked ready to go in all white (with black compression pants) during training. He offered little in the way of drama, spending most of his media workout time stretching, jumping rope and basic tai chi. What was most striking was his demeanor, his genuine excitement in the moment, as he smiled so often.
Miami is also of great significance to Morel, who defected from Cuba and considers the city a second home.
“Cuba is on my mind,” Morel said through a translator, choosing to speak in Spanish as he reflected on his family’s influence and his motivations for attending the fight night.
