Three-time former heavyweight champion Mairis Briedis predicts that David Morel’s Cuban training as a boxer since childhood will lead to his victory over David Benavides on February 1.
Benavidez he will not be able to bully Morel as he did when he was fighting smaller, weaker and older fighters when he competed at 168. Morel is the same size, younger, stronger and won’t be bullied the way Benavidez beat super middleweight fighters.
Fans viewed ‘Mexican Monster’ Benavidez as a bully all those years, gaming the system by melting down to compete with smaller fighters in the division below his massive light heavyweight/cruiserweight frame.
Benavidez didn’t look like the same fighter he was in his last fight when he moved up to 175 against Alexander Gvozdyk on June 15th.
Can Morrell shock the world?
Briedis says “everyone” believes interim WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) will knock out Morel (11-0, 9 KOs), but feels his Cuban background will be too much for the Mexican Monster’ in their headliner at T-Mobile Arena.
Mairis says Morel can fight on the outside, throw powerfully and fight on the inside. He has seen all styles of fighting during his years in Cuba with the national team. So what Benavidez brings to the table in this fight won’t be new for him.
Morel arguably fought better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba, against the two-time Olympic gold medalist Julio Cesar La Cruz. That fighter would be a nightmare for Benavidez due to his size, strength and technical skills.
Politics in the ring?
One question raised for the Benavidez-Morel fight is the officiating. As Briedis points out, Benavidez is from the United States, while Morel is from Cuba. He mentions politics. If the fight goes to the card, will the more popular fighter, Benavidez, the one with the huge fan base in the US, get the decision, even if he appears to have lost?
In Benavides’ last fight in Las Vegas against Ukraine’s Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June, he won a wide 12-round unanimous decision in a contest that felt like a razor’s edge. Gvozdik looked like he had won five to six rounds in that fight, but the Nevada judges gave it to Benavidez with this lopsided set of scores: 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.
I watched the fight and it was 114-114. Benavidez appeared to lose one of the first six rounds and then the last five, while Gvozdik was landing heavy punches against the tired ‘Mexican Monster’. So if the Benavides-Morrell fight makes it to the points charts, will Morrell get similar treatment? Does he need a knockout to defeat the popular Benavidez with his huge fan base in Nevada and the crowd on his side at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?
Cuban schooling
“Everyone thinks Benavidez will win by TKO, but I think Morel comes from Cuba and Cuba are very strong boxers.” It is a national sport for boxing,” said Mairis Briedis YouTube channel, analyzing the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell fight on February 1st.
“Morel is a very smart guy, a young guy, and he can fight at long range or as a hitter. These are two punchers meeting in the ring. My prediction, I think Morrell. They show something new for Benavidez. Speed, powerful punches and some interesting Cuban techniques.
“My prediction is for Morel to win by unanimous decision.” Benavidez has fought stronger opponents than Morel. I mean, Morrell didn’t fight very strong guys. I hope Morel wins by unanimous decision.
There is little politics in the US. Why because he (Benavidez) comes from the USA and his fans come from the USA. Morel is a Cuban guy, and what they have been doing since childhood is boxing.
Since childhood, Morel has fought in Cuba against better fighters than Benavidez. He also had a tougher life than Benavidez. His upbringing, along with his superior speed, strength, athletic ability and technical skills, give him a huge advantage in this fight.
“The winner (Benavidez vs. Morel) will fight Beterbiev or Bivolo.” “Benavidez-Morel will be a very difficult fight, and the next step is the most difficult fight against Beterbiev or Bivol,” said Briedis.
