Tim Bradley says David Morrell wants extra seasoning for him to defeat David Benavidez of their 12-round mild heavyweight match on February 1st on PBC on Prime Video PPV. Morrell has extra expertise within the amateurs towards higher competitors than Benavidez has fought within the professionals. He can and sure will defeat Benavidez and wreck his desires of preventing for the undisputed championship.
(Credit score: Esther Lin and Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)
Bradley wasn’t impressed with Morrell’s efficiency in his final combat towards Radivoje Kalajdzic on August third in Los Angeles.
Bradley believes Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) can do every part that the previous world title challenger Kalajdzic can do however is a greater puncher. He sees Benavidez as a jack of all trades, doing slightly little bit of every part. Nonetheless, he didn’t present a lot energy in his debut at 175 towards former WBC mild heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June fifteenth and was out-punched by him.
Morrell figures to be the larger puncher on this combat, and he would possibly knock Benavidez out if he tries to make use of quantity punching towards him like he did towards the 37-year-old Gvozdyk, who had lately come out of a four-year retirement after being knocked out by Artur Beterbiev in 2019.
“I believe Morrell wants slightly bit extra seasoning. I wasn’t too keen on his final combat. Benavidez can do some little bit of every part,” mentioned Tim Bradley to Sean Zittel, speaking about David Morrell needing extra expertise for his combat towards David Benavidez on February 1st.
Morrell had between 130 and 135 beginner fights in Cuba, going through arguably extra proficient competitors than Benavidez has fought as a professional. The expertise between the 2 is closely tilted in Morrell’s favor.
The one factor Benavidez has is expertise in going the 12-round distance. He’s forward of Morrell in that division with out query, however not by way of expertise towards high quality opposition. Benavidez’s greatest wins have come towards 35-year-old Demetrius Andrade, Caleb Plant [post-Canelo knockout loss], and the shopworn, outdated and ring-rusty Gvozdyk.
“We solely see him being a stress form of man, throwing mixtures, stepping on the fuel and stopping guys. However he can transfer and field if he needs to. I’ve seen him,” mentioned Bradley about Benavidez. “He can do some little bit of every part, and Morrell goes to battle towards that.”
Benavidez can’t transfer. He doesn’t do this in any respect. He comes ahead in straight strains, however he doesn’t transfer. He’s a stress fighter who thrived when he fought at 168 towards smaller, older opposition. Benavidez solely fought as soon as at 175, and that was his unimpressive displaying towards Gvozdyk on June fifteenth.
“Morrell likes guys which might be just about stationary,” mentioned Bradley. “I assumed ‘Sizzling Rod’ [Radivoje Kalajdzic] did a fairly good job of switching his sport plan up, intertwining boxing and pressuring. I assumed he did that very nicely. I believe that’s what Benavidez can do. He can combine it up, too,” mentioned Bradley.
Morrell hasn’t fought any cellular fighters within the professional ranks, however he fought a lot of them in Cuba. If Benavidez might transfer, Morrell wouldn’t be confused and helpless.
Morrell defeated Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs) by a one-sided 12-round unanimous determination on August third on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov on the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. “I believe he’s [Benavidez] extra of a puncher than Sizzling Rod as nicely,” mentioned Bradley.
“Sizzling Rod’ Kalajdzic is a much bigger puncher than Benavidez. Bradley clearly didn’t watch the combat carefully or Sizzling Rod’s different fights as nicely. He’s by far a a lot larger puncher than Benavidez.
Morrell-Kalajdzic scores
– 118-110
– 117-111
– 117-111
“Morrell, you may’t rely him out as a result of he can field, and he can study from his errors, and he can enhance. I believe Benavidez would be the favourite,” mentioned Bradley.
Morrell is 26 and solely a 12 months youthful than the 27-year-old Benavidez. He hasn’t taken the punishment that Benavidez has, however that’s as a result of he has higher energy and knocks out his opponents rapidly.
