Most people celebrate birthdays with cakes and candles and some gifts surrounded by loved ones. However, for David Benavidez, who was celebrating his 28th birthday during a Miami media workout to promote his upcoming fight against David Morel Jr. on February 1, it felt more like A sparring session rather than a media event.
The two light heavyweights will headline Super Champions’ first pay-per-view card of 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and tensions are boiling as soon as Benavidez enters the gym . In their first confrontation, Morel refused Benavidez’s handshake and placed his hands on his waist. Benavidez, 28, took off his designer sunglasses today and words were exchanged, with birthday boy Benavidez pushing Morel. Morrell then fired his championship belt at Benavidez’s head, narrowly missing the target.
That’s just the beginning.
“I tried to be respectful, but he said he was going to screw me over,” Benavidez said during Tuesday’s media workout. “So I pushed his ass back.”
Fans and media members braced themselves as an otherwise boring event became quite interesting. The two later came together again, with Morel changing clothes for a face-to-face press conference-type media event, this time verbally attacking each other. Benavidez, 29-0 (24 KOs), didn’t back down.
“This is nothing personal. This is personal,” Benavidez said. “On February 1st, I will smash your mouth.”
Morell (11-0, 9 KOs), who trains with Ronnie Shields, spoke enthusiastically in Spanish. He mocked Benavidez’s style and footwork, sarcastically calling him “RoboCop” and even imitating him in insulting ways on stage.
Morel claimed he refused to shake Benavidez’s hand because he felt disrespected during a previous press conference. But Benavidez wasn’t buying it. He noted that Morell shook hands after the same news conference. During today’s media session, Benavidez added that Morel even wished him a happy birthday on the Premier League boxing champion’s social media page. Benavidez, a former performer, laughed and translated for the audience: “He said I was a fight-prone person.”
Benavidez remained unfazed and fought back with confidence.
“I’m bad, I’m a bum, I’m RoboCop, and that’s fine,” Benavidez said. “After I knock you unconscious in front of your face, you better stop making any fucking excuses. What are you going to say? You’re going to say, ‘David Benavidez is the best ‘, like everyone else I’ve fought before you, they all say the same thing; I’m RoboCop; I have no footwork, this and that. But when they get in the ring with me. The situation is completely different.”
