Lonnie Thompson says David Benavidez has a tricky battle on his fingers in opposition to WBA ‘common’ mild heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1st. Thompson sees Benavidez having a tricky time with the previous Cuban beginner expertise, Morrell, however he’s not sure who wins.
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Morrell’s energy and technical abilities give him a giant benefit over Benavidez, who can’t punch and rely on his measurement, quantity, and aggressiveness to win.
Benavidez’s Kryptonite
Benavidez’s higher physique is sort of a withered, emaciated vestigial function, virtually just like the ineffective arms of a T-Rex dinosaur. He has no energy or measurement in his higher physique and depends upon quantity to win his fights. It’s going to be troublesome for Benavidez to win with quantity in opposition to Morrell as a result of he’s a lot stronger together with his energy and upper-body energy.
The way in which he breaks issues down, Morrell might win based mostly on his pace, energy, measurement, technical abilities, and athleticism. Morrell has benefits in each class besides expertise within the professional sport. Nonetheless, he has extra time within the amateurs, combating 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 combating beneath his pure weight class, draining from mild heavyweight to compete at 168. If Benavidez had moved as much as 175 earlier, his profession probably 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 just isn’t 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 pretty much 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 tricky battle. David Morrell is de facto, actually good. I don’t [know who is going to win the fight], as a result of David Morrell is huge too. He’s huge for tremendous middleweight,” stated Lonnie Thompson to Fighthype, speaking in regards to 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 Area in Las Vegas. Benavidez could have his WBC interim 175-lb title at stake, and Morrell can be placing his WBA ‘common’ belt in danger. Their occasion can be proven stay on PBC on Prime Video PPV.
Morrell’s Cuban Boxing Type
“He’s huge, he can punch, and he’s slick. He’s bought that Cuban type that’s actual slick and offensive with it,” stated Thompson about Morrell. “These types are powerful for anyone to battle, even the Mexican Monster,’ particularly with the type David has bought.”
The scale 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 just isn’t actually slick. He simply makes use of his measurement to put on guys down. He walks them down. He’s so huge, and also you’re hitting him, however you may’t get him good as a result of he’s so huge,” stated Thompson about Benavidez. “With David Morrell, he would actually have to fret about some warmth being thrown again 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 bought the A-side remedy from the judges, however they’ll’t save him this time in opposition to Morrell.
Footwork and Punching Energy
“David Morrell has actually good toes. So, I feel that will give David some bother, and he can punch,” stated Thompson.
“Whenever you’re guys too small for you, you’re imagined to seem like that,” stated Thompson about how Benavidez dominated when combating at tremendous middleweight. “He ought to seem like that in opposition to guys too small for him.”
