Gabriel Rosado says David Morrell has awakened “The Beast” in WBC Interim Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavidez with his constant insults in the build-up to their fight this Saturday, February 1, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Rosado figures Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOS) is going to attack Morrell (11-0, 9 KOS), trying to overwhelm him with punches to score in the 12-round main event of the clash at PBC on Prime Video PPV.
Benavidez is not used to being old and limited “Robocop” fighter than his opponents, but the more technically gifted Cuban Morrell is surprised by how basic he is as a fighter. He’s been with his size and bulk all these years, fighting at 168, and now he’s finally stepping up for the first time against a real credible threat, in David Morrell.
It’s late in the game for 12-year pro Benavidez, who is getting his first test, and he could collapse on Saturday night.
A “different kind of beast”
“I prefer Benavidez. I’ve known him for years. I prefer Benavidez, but you can’t sleep on Morrell. This is a fight that Benavidez shouldn’t even get this fight. Morrell was the one who needs this fight,” said Gabe Rosado Fighting TVclaiming that WBA “regular” light heavyweight champion David Morrell needs this fight against WBC 175-lb interim champion David Benavidez.
“Morrell is in a situation where he hit the jackpot. So if he can in this fight, he’s there because nobody was really calling Morrell out. So that shows what kind of dog Benavidez is. He said, ‘Come on, let’s go. Let’s run it,” Rosado said, failing to point out that Benavidez showed no interest in fighting Morrell for two years after his first call from him in 2022.
“I think it is Awaken a different kind of beast in Benavidez Because nobody really acts like that with Benavidez,” Gabe stated of Morrell talking him down, repeatedly questioning his courage and saying he can’t hit.
WBA ‘Regulat’ 175-lb champion Morrell has not hit the jackpot by taking this fight as he is the belt holder in this fight, not Benavidez. If Morrell was a non-belt contender, then you could argue that he’s “hitting the jackpot,” but that’s not the case. Benavidez is the underdog here.
“It’s going to be a firefight. They’re both going to clash, and it’s going to be a matter of who can take it because they’re both going to land shots. I think Morrell is the bigger puncher of the two, but Benavidez takes you out with volume. So what’s going to win?” Rosado said.
This may not be a clean fire like the one Rosado is predicting because there will be movement from Morrell, who is of the Cuban school of fighting. They stop like the fighters Benavidez fought through the first 11 years of his career. The Cuban has real ring IQ and is not going to stand up to fighters known for their bulk like Benavidez.
Power vs volume
“Is it going to be power, or is it going to be volume? This is going to come down to it, because I don’t think Morrell will be able to match Benavidez’s bulk. He’s constantly hurting on you, and he doesn’t get tired,” Rosado said.
In Benavidez’s “Mexican Monster” fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, he got very tired last June and looked exhausted by the eighth round. The extra weight Benavidez carries now that he’s fighting at 175 has caught up with him.
Additionally, the shots he hits at light heavyweight are much more difficult than they were when he campaigned at 168 against the likes of David Lemieux, Anthony Dirrell, Demetrius Andrade and Caleb Plant. He didn’t like the strength tested in his debut at 175 against Gvozdyk.
Benavidez’s bulk attacks only work against solid fighters. Fighters like William Zepeda and Benavidez, who depend on bulk to win, are outmatched by fighters who move and potshot.
That’s why Zepeda had so much trouble against Tevin Farmer and why Benavidez will struggle to get the Thots out against Morrell. He will be forced into a long game, throwing isolated shots, and that is not Benavidez’s forte.
“So Morrell is definitely going to have to set some traps and land some big shots in this fight,” Rosado said.
Robocop style dangerous
Morrell will likely move, move and claw Benavidez with huge shots all night long. Benavidez will talk many of the punches with his own Robocop style of attack, and this will make Morrell’s already formidable force even more devastating.
If you’re Benavidez, it would be wiser to put him on the shelf this style because he’ll get beaten by Morrell, Artur Beterbiev, Joshua Buatsi and Dmitry Bivol.
Benavidez got away with this primitive approach due to the numerous years he fought at 168 against the limited opposition he fought. He can’t do that at 175 without ending up Paluville In a year or two, if it takes that long. Benavidez can’t keep hitting like he did in his Light Heavyweight debut against Gvozdyk without soon being an over-the-hill fighter.
“The Mexican Monster” already has a long career of twelve years and the injuries that are starting to pile up show that, of course, he is starting to break down like most fighters who have been in the game this long.
In chronological terms, Benavidez is a young 28, but the punishment he’s taken to the head is the same as any fighter who’s been in the sport for over a decade. It’s even worse with Benavidez because he fights aggressively, hotly.
2025-01-27 22:09:00
