Shawn Porter sides with interim WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez to take on WBA “regular” champion David Morrell in their fight in 53 days on February 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Like many, Porter feels the experience of Benavidez, a former two-time WBC 168-pound champion, gives him the edge in his 12-round fight against Cuban Morel (11-0, 9 KOs).
Title effects
Benavidez vs. Morrell news headlines on PBC on Prime Video PPV. The winner of the fight will be in a position to challenge for a world title against the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2.
“55-45 for Benavidez. “The thing I think Benavidez has over Morel is experience and real power,” Shawn Porter told Fight Hub TV about David Benavidez vs. David Morrell on February 1 in Las Vegas.
“Both of those guys are big guys, but I think Benavidez is more of a natural 175-pounder. When you have the experience of resistance in a 12-round fight, that's nothing new for you. Morell had no resistance.
“That fight with Hot Rod, it was a different kind of resistance. That was resisting someone far away from you and not being able to catch him. With Benavidez, he can hammer him. He's just as fast,” Porter said.
Benavidez could punch Morell if he chose to stand still, but he probably won't. Even in his last fight against Radivoje Kalajidzic, he was moving a lot and not allowing him to land his powerful shots. Morel had the strength and youth advantage in that fight, but he didn't use it the way he needed to to dominate.
“He can box, and that kind of fights back and plays mentally with you. It becomes a roller coaster ride. David Benavidez has been on that ride. Morell didn't do that. I prefer Benavidez,” Porter said when asked if Benavidez could take out Morell early like he did in Sixth round knockout over Demetrius Andrade last year on November 25: “This round, I can see eight rounds, nine rounds before something like this happens to Morel.”
The experience advantage Benavidez has over the 26-year-old is quite significant, which is understandable considering the Cuban fighter only has 11 fights under his belt as a professional.
Top fighters on Benavidez's resume:
– Oleksandr Gvozdyk
– Caleb plant
– Demetrius Andrade
-Ronald Gavriel
-Anthony Dirrell
– Dennis Douglin
In comparison, Morel only has these three:
– Radivoje Kalajdzic
– Yamaguchi Falcao
– Eidos erboscinole
“Morrell is bigger than anyone else. He's taller than anyone else. He's as fast as anyone. He's probably stronger than anyone else,” Porter said.
Can Morel bother?
Morell is going to have to throw a lot more into this fight than he is used to in order to beat Benavidez because he will be outclassed if he doesn't. He won't impress the judges if Morel comes off an 8-to-1 touchdown run by Benavidez.
Having more power won't help Morell if Benavidez overpowers him with size, as he did with his last opponent, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, on June 15. Gvozdyk had better power and threw bigger punches, but Benavidez outworked him. That was the difference.
