Lionell ‘Lonnie B’ Thompson is selecting David Benavidez to defeat WBA ‘common’ gentle heavyweight champion David Morrell once they meet on January twenty fifth.
The 2 gentle, unbeaten fighters will meet to find out who will face whoever emerges because the victor within the rematch between undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Lonnie B. feels that WBC interim 175-lb champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is extra “battle-tested on the professional degree than the 26-year-old Cuban David Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), and he says he’s fought higher opposition. Nonetheless, he acknowledges that Morrell has glorious energy and is slick.
Lonnie B doesn’t understand how good Morrell is as a result of his finest wins have come in opposition to this restricted group:
– Radivoje Kalajdzic
– Sena Agbeko
– Yamaguchi Falcao
– Aidos Yerbossynuly
– Lennox Allen
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has already mentioned that he desires to arrange a rematch to clear up the controversy over Beterbiev’s 12-round majority choice win over Bivol final Saturday night time in Riyadh. That combat will in all probability occur within the first quarter of 2025.
“David Morrell is slick, however I’m leaning extra towards Benavidez. David [Benavidez] is a particularly good fighter, and he’s large. Preventing Oleksandr Gvozdyk, I believe his resume is best than David Morrell’s. I believe he’s extra battle-tested than Morrell,” mentioned Lionell Thompson to Fighthype, selecting David Benavidez over WBA ‘common’ gentle heavyweight champion David of their combat in January.
If Morrell fights like he did in opposition to Kalajdzic on August third, he’ll lose to Benavidez as a result of he appeared timid when he began getting hit again. Morrell’s energy appeared top-notch and his pace, however he wasn’t throwing combos and was getting backed up by the 33-year-old.
“We all know that David Morrell is sweet, however the query is, how good?” mentioned Lonnie B. “This combat goes to point out us. Have they pushed him too quick? Is he prepared for Benavidez, or is he a kind of particular specimens who’s forward of his time? We will discover out, however I’m leaning in direction of Benavidez. That good job that he’s bought, the combos, and going to the physique; I’m leaning extra towards David [Benavidez].
“I’m going with Beterbiev. He’s bought the form of energy the place if he hits anyone, they’re going to be, ‘Whoa,’” mentioned Thompson when requested who wins between Benavidez and Artur Beterbiev. “David [Benavidez] is lots larger than Bivol. David is extra like a cruiserweight that makes the load [175]. The factor is, he hasn’t been hit as arduous.
“Oleksandr Gvozdyk has respectable form of pop. Artur [Beterbiev] has, ‘I’m going to retire you form of pop,” mentioned Thompson.
It’s nonetheless not a provided that Benavidez and Artur Beterbiev will ever combat. Beterbiev nonetheless should win his rematch with Bivol, and that could possibly be a troublesome one as a result of it’s going to be one other arduous combat the place Dmitry is transferring nonstop, touchdown pictures and sure utilizing clinching to maintain Beterbiev from getting his pictures off.
