David Benavidez is already planning his technique for defeating the winner of the February twenty second rematch between undisputed mild heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) says he’ll use a unique sport plan for every of them and can field Beterbiev (21-0, 21 KOs) and apply stress in opposition to Bivol.
Morrell Then Glory
It’s nonetheless too early for Benavidez to think about going through the winner of that battle as a result of he nonetheless should defeat WBA ‘common’ mild heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1st. That’s a 50-50 battle in most individuals’s minds, however not in Benavidez.
He’s ultra-confident that he’ll haven’t any issues beating Morrell, so he lastly agrees to the battle after watching the Cuban labor in opposition to Radivoje Kalajdzic on August third.
Few folks give Benavidez any probability of beating Bivol or Beterbiev, but it surely’s not stunning that he believes he can beat them. That’s his persona. Like many fighters who’ve been matched fastidiously, Benavidez thinks he can defeat anybody, which can be his undoing when he goes up in opposition to Morrell.
His matchmakers at PBC have saved Benavidez well-protected, and he’s been preventing in a division under his body measurement up till his final battle. That’s helped him.
“My primary goal is to place a beating on David Morrell after which go up and face whoever is subsequent,” stated David Benavidez to Sean Zittel about his speedy purpose for February 1st. I believe we had been ranked #1 [with the WBC] within the spot to battle the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol. So, if that’s what it’s, I’m 100% prepared for that as properly.
“With these large fights, I’m capable of construct my model an increasing number of. It’s form of like Canelo’s profession. He went up and was beating greater [named] fighters. If I don’t get that Canelo battle, I actually don’t care. I’m actually pleased with my profession and pleased with the alternatives I’m getting. Now, it’s simply proving I’m the most effective on the earth it doesn’t matter what weight class.
“I simply really feel unhealthy for the folks as a result of the persons are lacking an superior battle,” stated Benavidez, nonetheless harping in regards to the Canelo battle. “That’s what we’re right here for, to provide the folks good fights.”
Benavidez ought to have forgotten about Canelo years in the past as a result of he made it clear to everybody that he would by no means get the chance. If Benavidez had given up a very long time in the past, he may have moved to mild heavyweight or cruiserweight and presumably gained a world title by now.
Field Beterbiev, Stress Bivol
“They’re the iron champions on the weight class,” stated Benavidez about Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. “Beterbiev is the robust, coming in. He’s like a tank making an attempt to knock you out, however there’s room for him to be outboxed. Actually, I assumed Bivol beat him. I assumed Bivol beat him and I assumed Bivol beat him convincingly. That’s how one can beat that fighter.”
Benavidez isn’t knowledgeable decide, so his opinion about Bivol deserving the victory over Beterbiev of their October twelfth conflict is meaningless. Nevertheless, he stated earlier than their battle that he thought Bivol was going to win, so he already had a bias. Beterbiev gained below stress, and the judges have already made their name.
Bivol is the most effective boxer within the 175-lb division, however he didn’t outbox Beterbiev. If Bivol couldn’t do it, a quantity puncher like Benavidez gained’t both. He’s not a terrific boxer, and he’s not going to have the ability to change the best way he fights after 11 years within the professional sport. Benavidez is the completed product. If he does get a battle in opposition to Beterbiev, he’ll use the identical high-output type he at all times has, and that might be a catastrophe for him. He could be one other Callum Smith however with out the ability.
“With Bivol, you need to stress him extra and throw far more combos,” stated Benavidez. “You’ll be able to’t simply throw left hooks and proper hooks. It’s important to be actually clever together with your combos. So, each of them, you need to battle two alternative ways, however whoever we battle, now we have to be 100% prepared. I might undoubtedly be prepared, and it will be an incredible battle with each of these guys.”
Benavidez has sparred with Bivol earlier than, and it was rumored that he had gotten the higher of him. Nevertheless, if that had been true, it will be sparring, not a battle. Bivol could be an issue for Benavidez in an actual battle, the place he wouldn’t be training like he was in the course of the sparring classes.
Why Morrell Now?
“That’s why I took this battle [David Morrell] no drawback as a result of once I was ready for that [to fight the Beterbiev vs. Bivol winner], I assumed as a result of I used to be the #1 contender [with WBC], as a result of that battle ended the best way it did, you need to give it the respect it deserves a rematch,” stated Benavidez.
It wasn’t till David Morrell appeared lower than spectacular in his final battle in opposition to Radivoje Kalajdzic on August third that Benavidez wished to battle him. Earlier than that battle, Benavidez and his dad, Jose Benavidez Sr., wished nothing to do with Morrell. They probably noticed his weaknesses and determined, ‘I believe he’s good.’
“So, they had been giving me a couple of different names, and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m not thinking about any of these fights. I need the large fights, and if we are able to’t get anybody large, we’re going to make a giant battle out of an individual that has a belt that talks lots of s***,’” stated Benavidez about why he selected to battle Morrell.
The timing of Benavidez’s resolution to battle Morrell is suspicious. It comes instantly after his first unimpressive efficiency in his five-year profession. Benavidez didn’t increase his hand to battle Morrell when he was destroying Sena Agbeko or Yamaguchi Falcao.
“So, that’s form of the route we went. It is a battle that individuals have wished to observe for a very long time. So, I really feel that is the most effective time to make the battle between me and Morrell occur. It’s simply in my mentality that I’m able to battle the most effective. I don’t care who it’s. I’m 100% able to battle whoever it’s, no,” stated Benavidez.
