Lonnie Thompson says David Benavidez has a troublesome battle on his palms in opposition to WBA ‘regular’ gentle heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1st. Thompson sees Benavidez having a troublesome time with the previous Cuban newbie expertise, Morrell, however he’s not sure who wins.
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Morrell’s energy and technical expertise give him an enormous benefit over Benavidez, who can’t punch and depend upon his measurement, quantity, and aggressiveness to win.
Benavidez’s Kryptonite
Benavidez’s higher physique is sort of a withered, emaciated vestigial characteristic, virtually just like the ineffective arms of a T-Rex dinosaur. He has no power or measurement in his higher physique and will depend on quantity to win his fights. It’s going to be tough for Benavidez to win with quantity in opposition to Morrell as a result of he’s a lot stronger along with his energy and upper-body power.
The way in which he breaks issues down, Morrell may win based mostly on his velocity, energy, measurement, technical expertise, and athleticism. Morrell has benefits in each class besides expertise within the professional sport. Nonetheless, he has extra time within the amateurs, preventing higher opposition than the restricted fighters that Benavidez has fought within the professionals.
Thompson feels that Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) goes to have to fret about what’s coming again at him from the Cuban Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) as a result of he’s simply as huge however is a much bigger puncher, slick and has good toes.
Benavidez owes a lot of his success to preventing beneath his pure weight class, draining from gentle heavyweight to compete at 168. If Benavidez had moved as much as 175 earlier, his profession doubtless would have by no means gotten this far, and he’d be one of many pack, no higher off than any of the opposite contenders.
Benavidez is just not the identical fighter as a light-weight heavyweight, as he was at 168. He’s like Superman within the presence of Kryptonite, and he’s misplaced his energy.
Thompson says that made Benavidez look good. He didn’t look almost nearly as good when he lastly moved as much as 175 in his final battle, and struggled in opposition to 37-year-old Oleksandr Gvozdhyk on June fifteenth.
“It’s a tough fight. David Morrell is really, really good. I don’t [know who is going to win the fight], because David Morrell is big too. He’s big for super middleweight,” mentioned Lonnie Thompson to Fighthype, speaking concerning the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell battle on February 1st.
They’re each at 175 now, set to satisfy on February 1st on the T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas. Benavidez may have his WBC interim 175-lb title at stake, and Morrell will likely be placing his WBA ‘regular’ belt in danger. Their occasion will likely be proven reside on PBC on Prime Video PPV.
Morrell’s Cuban Boxing Fashion
“He’s big, he can punch, and he’s slick. He’s got that Cuban style that’s real slick and offensive with it,” mentioned Thompson about Morrell. “Those styles are tough for anybody to fight, even the Mexican Monster,’ especially with the style David has got.”
The dimensions and cautious matchmaking allowed Benavidez to dominate for the final 11 years at 168. He didn’t battle cutting-edge competitors all these years aside from Caleb Plant if you wish to name him ‘cutting-edge.’ He’s not.
“David is not really slick. He just uses his size to wear guys down. He walks them down. He’s so big, and you’re hitting him, but you can’t get him good because he’s so big,” mentioned Thompson about Benavidez. “With David Morrell, he would really have to worry about some heat being thrown back at him.”
With out Benavidez’s measurement benefit in his final battle in opposition to Oleksandr Gvozdyk at 175, he seemed like a below-average fighter and was fortunate to win. Benavidez’s love-sick followers thought it was a dominant efficiency, however they noticed him by rose-colored glasses, viewing him unrealistically. He didn’t dominate Gvozdyk.
Certainly, he caved within the second half and misplaced six consecutive rounds in actual phrases. The judges gave Benavidez the choice, however that was a draw. He obtained the A-side remedy from the judges, however they will’t save him this time in opposition to Morrell.
Footwork and Punching Energy
“David Morrell has really good feet. So, I think that would give David some trouble, and he can punch,” mentioned Thompson.
“When you’re guys too small for you, you’re supposed to look like that,” mentioned Thompson about how Benavidez dominated when preventing at tremendous middleweight. “He should look like that against guys too small for him.”
