“David Benavidez vs. David Morrell Jr.: Fight Preview, Odds & How to Watch”
The pair of light heavyweights collide on Saturday night in Las Vegas with huge implications
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s refusal to face his top two rivals while he was the undisputed super middleweight champion forced those two men, David Benavidez and David Morrell, into a high-stakes showdown this Saturday night. Both Benavidez and Morrell moved up to light heavyweight after failing to secure a bout with Alvarez. Now, they face off in a potential showdown for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) has held the WBC super middleweight title twice and has never lost the title in the ring. After winning the title the first time with a split decision over Ronald Gavril in 2017, he successfully defended the belt in a 2018 rematch. Later that year, it was reported that Benavidez tested positive for cocaine in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency drug test and was stripped of his title and given a four-month suspension. Benavidez regained the title in his second fight after the suspension, stopping Anthony Dirrell in the ninth round of their title fight. He never defended that title, failing to make weight for his first planned defense against Romar Alexis Angulo and again being stripped of the belt.
Benavidez went on to further dominate the division in the ring, including earning the WBC interim title in 2022. Alvarez won all four world titles at 168 pounds, but repeatedly shot down any talk of facing Benavidez, the clear top contender for his championship.
When it became increasingly clear a fight with one of boxing’s biggest stars was never going to come to fruition, Benavidez made the jump to 175 pounds, where he won the WBC interim title again by defeating former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. The bout with Gvozdyk proved to be a little more difficult than expected, partly because of a torn hand ligament before the bout and partly because Benavidez’s stamina seemed to fail him in the later rounds.
“I’ve been training very hard. I told you all I was going to break David Morrell’s face and that’s what I’m going to do on Saturday,” Benavidez said this week. “Everyone is going to see a great fight. I’ve prepared very well for this fight. Don’t blink, because this fight is going to be over quickly.”
Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) also spent a lot of time as Alvarez’s mandatory challenger and would have been seen as a very legitimate opponent for the Mexican superstar. Despite winning the WBA “regular” championship in only his fifth professional fight and defending it five times in a row, Morrell was facing a similar setback from Alvarez and made the jump up to 175 pounds, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic to win the “regular” title at the new weight.
Like Benavidez’s division-welcoming fight with Gvozdyk, Morrell struggled at times in his light heavyweight debut, and had to take a decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic in a much closer contest than the official scorecards indicated. Prior to that bout, only two of Morrell’s opponents had lasted beyond the fourth round.
The prize that eluded both men at super middleweight — a fight in which multiple world championships were at stake — now seems within reach. The winner will become the obvious challenger to the winner of the Feb. 22 rematch between undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
“I don’t care what he brings to the ring. They call him a monster, but I’m not worried about that. My team is behind me and I’m ready,” Morrell said. “I’m 100% confident. I have Ronnie Shields with me and we had a great training camp in Texas. I feel great and I’m not worried about what anyone else is saying. I’m going to have the last word on Saturday.”
The undercard features some top names looking to make a splash once again. Look no further than the co-main event when Brandon Figueroa puts his WBC featherweight title on the line against Stephen Fulton Jr. The two met in an instant classic in the 2021 Fight of the Year, where Fulton won with a majority decision. Now up the weight class where Figueroa has had more success, Fulton will need a similar fight to become champion again.
Also, former junior welterweight champion Isaac Cruz is back in action when he takes on Angel Fierro. Cruz, best known for challenging Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2021, is looking to get back in the win column after a shocking loss to Jose Valenzuela in August. Prior to that defeat, Cruz rattled off four consecutive wins in impressive fashion. He defeated Rolando “Rolly” Romero in emphatic fashion to capture the WBA title.
Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the undercard with the latest odds before moving on to predictions and expert picks on the main event below.
Benavidez vs Morrell fight card, odds
• David Benavidez -230 vs. David Morrell +180, light heavyweight
• Brandon Figueroa (c) -185 vs. Stephen Fulton +150, WBC featherweight title
• Isaac Cruz -900 vs. Angel Fierro +550, junior welterweight
• Jesus Ramos- 2500 vs. Jeison Rosario +1100, junior middleweights
• Mirco Cuello -650 vs. Christian Olivo Barreda +450, featherweights
• Yoenli Hernandez -2500 vs. Angel Ruiz Astorga +1100, middleweights
• Kaipo Gallegos -600 vs. Leonardo Padilla +425, junior lightweights
• Jose Benavidez Jr. -1100 vs. Danny Rosenberger +650, middleweights
• Daniel Blancas -2000 vs. Juan Barajas +900, super middleweights
• Jose Benavidez Jr. -1100 vs. Danny Rosenberger +650, middleweights
• Curmel Moton -4000 vs. Frank Zaldivar +1200, lightweights
Where to watch Benavidez vs. Morrell Jr.
- Date: Feb. 1 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (main card)
- Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
- TV channel/stream: Amazon PPV ($79.99) and PPV.com
Fight Prediction
This battle may come down to who has adapted better to the light heavyweight division. Both fighters have proven their dominance at 168 pounds but struggled at times in their debuts at 175. Morrell’s power and technical precision make him a formidable opponent, but Benavidez’s relentless pressure and experience at the highest level could give him the edge.
If the fight turns into a slugfest, either man has the power to land a fight-ending shot. However, Benavidez’s experience and ability to apply pressure throughout the fight may be the deciding factor.
Prediction: David Benavidez via Majority Decision (MD).
With the stakes at an all-time high, Benavidez vs. Morrell promises to deliver fireworks. Don’t miss this electrifying battle as these two warriors fight for a chance at undisputed greatness in the light heavyweight division.