When Team David Benavidez moved on from pursuing a big ticket bout with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, there was only one name being tossed about by Benavidez’s promoter Sampson Lewkowicz– David Morrell.
And if the latest news is to be believed, the 25-year-old Cuban phenom and WBA “regular” super middleweight world champion Morrell IS next, likely in October or November.
“We have an agreement. This is the plan,” Lewkowicz told Dan Rafael. “We are with the same network. It’s easy to get an agreement. I strongly believe it will be more competitive than it would be with (undisputed champion) Canelo Alvarez. I believe Canelo wouldn’t go past six rounds with Benavidez and with Morrell it’s a coin flip. It’s a great fight. I believe the most important thing is this is a great fight for the public.”
The 9-0 Morrell, himself, has talked about wanting Benavidez.
“I’ll say it again: I want to fight the best, and David Benavidez is one of the best in the division,” Morrell told media just a few days after his one-round destruction of Yamaguchi Falcao on the Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia undercard. “Millions of fans got to see what I’m all about and I believe I have the skills to beat him. I know he is a warrior that never backs down from a fight, so I’m expecting him to take the challenge. This is a fight I know that fans want to see. The winner can be next in line to fight Canelo. I’m the real monster and I’m ready to prove it in the ring.”
So, it’s all set, right? Let’s get it on.
Not so fast.
The biggest voice on Team Benavidez, David’s father and trainer Jose Benavidez Sr., has recently said that he’d begrudgingly take the Morrell fight for his son, but would prefer not to.
“I would love to fight David Morrell, but David Morrell is not there yet, in my opinion. He needs a little bit more fans. Maybe like about two or three more fights,” Benavidez Sr told MillCity Boxing.
“In those two or three more fights, he’s going to get more dangerous also, but we’ll take him right now, no problem. I think David can stop him, but like in two or three fights, man, this guy is super talented. He’s learning a lot. He’s getting more experience; he’s getting stronger and stronger and stronger.”
The elder Benavidez says that he leans towards fights with bigger draws such as Jaime Munguia at 168 or Dmitry Bivol at 175.
“I think Munguia has the people. He’ll steal all the fans from Canelo also by facing David Benavidez. Two great Mexicans going at it. We’ll prove who’s the best Mexican at 168.
“If that doesn’t happen, I would love to do the revenge against [Dmitry] Bivol. Bivol is the Mexican killer now, in my eyes. He f***ed up Canelo, he f***ed up Zurdo Ramirez. So imagine if he fights David. That’s a bigger fight than Canelo, to be honest.
“The title, I would love the title ‘The Revenge of the Mexicans’ or something. Imagine if he beats David too. But also, if we beat Bivol, that puts us in a bigger, better spot also. Exactly, and we didn’t even have to face Canelo. F**k Canelo.
“We’re willing to do whatever. We’re here patiently. David just fought [on March 25th]. We’re thinking about fighting in September or October. So if he wants to get it on in September, let’s make it happen.
“I think we should go up and fight at 175 against Bivol. Take that opportunity, and then come back to 168 and or go with Beterbiev,” Benavidez Sr. concluded.
In other words, don’t make your travel plans or book your hotel rooms for Benavidez-Morrell just yet.
