The David Benavidez vs. David Morrell bout at 52 Days on February 1st will serve as a final eliminator for the WBC light heavyweight title to determine the mandatory for the February 22nd rematch between undisputed 175lb champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
There is a huge amount of money at stake for the winner, Benavidez-Morrell. Whoever emerges victorious will fight the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol team for the big win, most likely in Riyadh, and will make a fortune against one of them. For “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez, this is the payday he has been chasing throughout his career through his relentless pursuit of a fight against Canelo Alvarez.
Mandatory WBC position
Morrell's WBA “regular” 175-pound title and Benavidez's interim WBC belt will be on the line in their showdown on February 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Their event will be shown on PBC on Prime Video PPV.
Morell (11-0, 9 KOs) could upset the apple cart with a win over Benavidez, who has prided himself greatly during his 11-year professional career, fighting in a division below his massive cruiserweight frame, competing against smaller and lesser opposition throughout Around. His resume is filled with older and younger fighters like Demetrius Andrade, Romeier Alexis Angulo, David Lemieux, and Anthony Dirrell.
If Benavidez gets beaten in this fight, fans will realize that he was just a fake publicity job all these years and was never the man he made them believe he was. In other words, weight bullies would be a pretty fair description.
More experienced pro Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is seen as a bit of a fan favorite. However, Morel is the younger, faster, stronger, and better technical fighter. He also has the edge over Benavidez, who looked exhausted after six rounds in his 175 debut last summer in his June 15 bout against Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Las Vegas.
Gvozdyk, 37, had the better power in that fight and was the one who pushed the fight into the final six rounds. The judges scored it for Benavidez by a wide 12-round decision, but it looked like a draw. In other words, the fighter from the first side David was lucky.
Many suspect that the “Mexican Monster” is not the same man now because he competes at a higher weight, carries more pounds on his frame, and faces opposition of similar size with superior strength.
