David Morrell has called out David Benavidez for showing signs of insecurity ahead of their highly anticipated February 1st light heavyweight clash. The Cuban fighter (11-0, 9 KOs) believes that Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is already making excuses, talking about his concerns over VADA testing as a way to explain a potential loss.
Morrell views Benavidez’s comments as an attempt to set up a PED excuse for his fans in case the fight doesn’t go in his favor. If Benavidez were to claim that Morrell, 26, was “dirty,” his fans might feel sympathetic, sparing him from losing their support. Without such an excuse, however, Morrell suggests that Benavidez risks alienating his fanbase, who may abandon him at the first sign of defeat.
This wouldn’t be the first time Benavidez has looked for a reason to explain a poor performance. After his previous fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, Benavidez mentioned injuries but didn’t provide any x-rays to substantiate the claim. Despite the lack of evidence, many fans accepted the excuse because it was the first time. Morrell hopes that if Benavidez loses, he will handle the defeat with more dignity, rather than resorting to baseless accusations.
The Cuban prospect sees Benavidez’s career trajectory as one of fighting opponents who were never on his level. Now that he’s facing someone who is, Morrell believes that Benavidez is rattled and resorting to PED talk as a way to soften the blow if he loses. Morrell emphasized that Benavidez, after years of easy fights, now faces a genuine challenge.
Benavidez is about to face his first truly 50-50 fight in a career that has spanned 12 years, and Morrell finds it surprising that his opponent is already stirring the pot with PED-related comments. Is this part of Benavidez’s mind games to gain an edge over the younger, faster, and more talented Morrell?
The stakes are high for Benavidez. If he loses this fight, his hopes of securing a mega-money bout against either Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol will be dashed. Furthermore, his dreams of ever fighting Canelo Alvarez could fade into the distance. Instead, Benavidez could find himself battling for minor titles at 175 pounds, far from the big paydays and high-profile matchups.
In the build-up to this fight, Morrell isn’t just talking about boxing skills—he’s pointing out the mental side of the game. If Benavidez can’t handle the pressure now, it may be a sign of cracks in his armor. Only time will tell how this all plays out, but the spotlight is firmly on the “Mexican Monster” as he prepares for what could be the most pivotal fight of his career.