The online boxing world was lit up for a few days when news of a David Benavidez-David Morrell bout hit the news. According to Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, the fight between the undefeated super middleweight stars was a done deal and set for either October or November.
Then, reality landed a straight hand to the nose.
“There’s no fight with Morrell lined up,” David Benavidez told FightHype.com.
“I just seen that yesterday that supposedly they said I agreed to the fight. I’m like man this is my first time seeing about it. We’re not fighting Morrell. Everything has been coming out saying that we agreed to the fight. I haven’t seen anything. I didn’t agree to anything. I’m trying to make big fights happen.
“Right now, we want to fight Jaime Munguia, [who] came up to 168. I think that would be a great fight. Two big names but if we can’t get him, we’ll probably do Morrell. If it doesn’t come from me then it’s not official.”
The original Team Benavidez plan was to entice Saul “Canelo” Alvarez into a defense of his four super middleweight titles. But that doesn’t appear likely at the moment.
“They didn’t even reply to the offer,” Benavidez said, when asked about the Canelo fight proposal, which reportedly involved a $45 million offer to the Mexican superstar.
“It’s one thing saying you could turn it down or you tell him we’re just gonna wait one more year, we’ll try to get some more money or whatever. They ain’t even reply to it. So, imagine you got a deal on the table for 45 million dollars and nobody replies. I don’t know what else to say. He don’t want to fight.
“He’d rather negotiate with somebody that hasn’t fought in three years. No disrespect to [rumored Canelo opponent Jermall] Charlo but he still hasn’t fought in three years [actually, two]. He’s gonna have ring rust.”
Cuba’s David Morrell, meanwhile, was not too happy to hear the news that Benavidez was not entertaining a fight with him any time in the immediate future.
“David Benavidez is a big bi**h,” Morrell said in a press release issued to media. “His dad [and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr.] is a big fraud always talking like he’s some tough guy but he’s just a small man with little man complex. His brother wants to be gangster who talks a lot of sh*t but got knocked out by Crawford and did a horrible job in the move Creed. The Benavidez’ are a bunch of cowards. This is the guy you call The Mexican Monster? He’s a fraud. This is the guy everyone is building up. I see a fat insecure boy…that’s what I see. Benavidez couldn’t walk down any street in Cuba without getting his shoes taken. Funny he calls Canelo a duck, who’s the duck now?
Morrell would then double down on his sentiment in a subsequent press release.
“Jose Sr. does not want the fight. He talks a lot, but he clearly wants to fight Munguia as seen in all his recent interviews,” Morrell said. “The loudmouth son Jose Jr. hasn’t said a word either. So, I want small man Jose to come out publicly and say he is scared of the Monster Morrell. I’m giving you 24 hours to tell the world the truth little guy! Or I will do an interview daily about the cowards they call the Benevidez’. Your name is Red Flag maybe because you run when there is danger. Don’t use my name anymore, cancel all your merchandise and stop lying to people. I’m the real MONSTER!
“My message to Benavidez is…I’m ready for all those bi**hes. Grow some b**ls, and lets give the fans the fight they want to see. Your family name is a disgrace.”
