David Morrell is not holding back ahead of his February 1 clash with David Benavidez for the WBC interim light heavyweight title. The Cuban star is convinced that Benavidez lacks the power to trouble him at 175 pounds and has promised to deliver a knockout performance when they headline the Prime Video PPV card.
Morrell highlighted what he sees as a massive gap in power, speed, and overall ability between himself and Benavidez. Despite being only a year younger at 26, Morrell suggested that the years of hard sparring and wars in the ring have aged Benavidez. “He’s nervous,” Morrell said during the press conference. “He doesn’t have the power to hurt me, let alone break my jaw.”
Benavidez, known for his volume punching at super middleweight, has struggled to showcase the same dominance at 175. His debut in the division last June against Oleksandr Gvozdyk exposed his limitations, with many believing the fight was closer than the judges’ decision. Morrell sees this as a sign that Benavidez’s style won’t translate well to the light heavyweight division.
Watch the press conference here: Watch
“If Benavidez tries to overwhelm me with volume, he’ll pay for it,” Morrell said. “At 175, I’ve got the power, the speed, the movement, and the skills. He can’t rely on size here.”
Both fighters exchanged heated words at the kickoff press conference, with Benavidez vowing to “break Morrell’s jaw.” Morrell responded confidently, “He’s threatened, intimidated. I’ve got everything to beat him - legs, power, speed. I’ll show him he doesn’t belong in this division.”
Read more about the upcoming battle here.
Image Credit: PBC