David Benavidez is hunting for the best fights and significant challenges, and fans seem to love that about him. Benavidez took to Instagram to announce he has agreed to fight David Morrell in a huge light heavyweight title bout between young, hungry champions in their primes.
Benavidez’s interim WBC title will be on the line, while Morrell’s secondary WBA title is at stake.
One fan commenting on ESPN Ringside’s news post on the fight wrote:
“Now this is a fight!”
Another wrote:
“Good fight interesting they are at 175 rather than 168, wonder who that favors…”
A third commenter wrote:
“This fight is gonna be good winner fights Beterbiev vs Bivol fight.”
In the caption of Benavidez’s post on IG, he wrote:
“There was a lot of names on the table but I wanted to give my fans the best fight possible . I reached out to David Morrell and his team to make this happen and we got the contract done 🔥🔥🔥. This fight really gonna be a banger!!! 2 of the best in the division and 2 titles on the line , LFG!!!!! Date & Location to be announced shortly.”
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, the fight is expected to occur on January 25 in Las Vegas, but those details aren’t finalized. Some fans are hoping the Benavidez-Morrell fight is on the same card as Errol Spence Jr. vs. Sebastian Fundora, but that fight hasn’t been given a date or location.
Benavidez, 27, is 29-0 and the former super middleweight champion. He pursued a fight with Canelo Alvarez for over a year, but the latter wasn’t interested in the fight, forcing Benavidez to move on.
At 6’1”, Benavidez proved to be a punishing presence at 168 pounds, and while he has captured an interim world title at light heavyweight, there are some questions as to whether he will be as dominant in his new weight class.
Morrell might be the perfect opponent to help answer those questions.
At 26 years old, Morrell is seemingly at the prime of his athletic life–or at least approaching it. He’s only had 11 professional fights but has already demonstrated excellent skill, speed, and power.
Morrell is an athletic boxer-puncher with nine KOs in his 11 pro bouts, and this clash with Benavidez could lead the winner to an even bigger fight against the undisputed light heavyweight champion.
That matter will be settled on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia when WBC, IBF, and WBO champion Artur Beterbiev clash with WBA champion Dmitry Bivol. It seems only natural for the winners of those two compelling fights to clash.
However, we’ve yet to see the top-tier fighters signed with Premier Boxing Champions get involved with Riyadh Season events. Perhaps this fight could be the draw that opens the floodgates.
As it is, the light heavyweight division just got a lot more compelling.