Demetrius Andrade says it’s too early for David Morrell to face an skilled skilled like David Benavidez of their struggle on February 1st on the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
Many individuals echo Andrade’s view about Morrell’s lack of expertise, however they could possibly be unsuitable. Morrell has extra energy, pace, mobility, and technical abilities than Benavidez.
WBA ‘common’ gentle heavyweight champion Morrell 11-0, 9 KOs) is a five-year skilled from Cuba who hasn’t been within the professional ranks lengthy sufficient to construct the sort of resume Benavidez has throughout his lengthy profession.
The previous two-division world champion Andrade shared the ring with Benavidez final 12 months, dropping by a sixth-round knockout on November twenty fifth. He seemed too small and too outdated towards Benavidez, who resembled a cruiserweight after rehydrating for the struggle.
Andrade had been preventing at 160 till shifting as much as 168 early final 12 months towards journeyman Demond Nicholson on January 7, 2023, earlier than going through Benavidez later within the 12 months in November.
Andrade: Morrell Lacks Expertise
“I believe David Morrell is an effective fighter. I believe he’s too inexperienced within the skilled recreation,” stated Demetrius Andrade to MillCity Boxing when requested about whether or not the 26-year-old David Morrell is able to face David Benavidez on February 1st.
“Does he have abilities? Yeah, he has abilities within the recreation. Is it the very best abilities? I don’t assume so, however has he ever fought anyone that pushed him to the restrict as an expert? No, however he’ll discover out February 1st, although,” stated Andrade about Morrell.
“David [Benavidez] has been in with some prime fighters. So, I believe David ought to come out with the victory. I by no means watched David Morrell like that to see as a result of not fighter got here to thoughts to make me assume, ‘Oh, let me struggle this struggle tonight. Let me see who.’ It was like I watch him when he will get in with an actual journeyman or one thing, however he hasn’t fought any of these but. So, it’s powerful,” stated Andrade.
Benavidez hasn’t been within the ring with any prime fighters. He’s been in with contenders, lots of them older fighters, however no prime fighters. To be a prime man, he would want to face somebody like Canelo Alvarez, Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, Jai Opetaia, or Morrell. None of these guys are on his resume.
Benavidez’s greatest wins
Caleb Plant
Demetrius Andrade
David Lemieux
Oleksander Gvozdyk
Anthony Dirrell
Dirrell, Gvozdyk, and Andrade had been of their mid-30s when Benavidez fought them. They weren’t of their prime and positively not “prime fighters” when he fought them.
It’s not a shock that Andrade could be siding together with his conqueror Benavidez to win this struggle as a result of if he had been to go along with Morrell, it might downgrade himself by doing so. Andrade has solely misplaced as soon as in his 16-year skilled profession, and that got here towards Benavidez.
“I give him all due credit score. He’s been calling out David [Benavidez]. He’s been wanting that struggle. He should know one thing we don’t know and should the very best man win. I can’t wait to observe that struggle. I believe it’s somewhat too early [for Morrell] in my thoughts, however on the identical time, it’s good.
“They’re making it occur. It’s too younger guys which have a few years within the sport of boxing, it doesn’t matter what the end result is,” stated Andrade.
Morrell’s Cuban Pedigree
Morrell, 26, has the youth, pace, energy, and novice expertise over Benavidez. That counts for lots. Furthermore, he additionally has much less mileage on him than Benavidez, and he’s not beginning to break down like him.
For the Mexican Monster’s debut at 175 towards former WBC gentle heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on June fifteenth, he got here into the competition with an injured shoulder, two damage arms, and a latest lower.
That’s a sign that after 11 years and plenty of exhausting fights, Benavidez is beginning to present early indicators of decline. He’s already had an extended profession, however his physique is sporting down, and Morrell may reap the benefits of that on February 1st.
