Comments Thread For: David Morrell: Benavidez is no 'Monster', I will knock him out

[pnut901]

This ought to be a great fight. I hope that it lives up to its potential.
I like both fighters and either one can win this one. I'm going with Morrell though.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Great breakdown. You make a very good case. Much better than reading “Benny gon KO this bum” or “Morrell gon expose this clown.” Lol Thanks for making sense — right or wrong.

That's why I'm picking Morrell anyways. People get hung up on level of competition, but miss the point that against lower levels of competition, a fighter can get away with limited skills and they need to fight better competition to show if they have the skills to hang at a higher level. Other fighters, like Tank, Shakur, Boots Ennis, and Morrell, all show the skills even against lower levels of competition, so it's easier to favor them because you know they have the tools in the toolbox to win against all but the highest level of competition, when they face guys who also have the skills, and then they need something more. When the primary question is whether a guy has a great chin, or how good their power is, that's a different question than if he's got the skills to compete.

Guys like Devin Haney and Benavidez can look supremely skilled because they're dominant against smaller guys, but when you look at what they're actually doing, you see limited skills like jab and clinch for Haney, or walk and hook for Benavidez, and they also display flaws that smaller opponents can't physically take advantage of, like dropping the right during the jab for Haney, or walking up and compromising stance like Benavidez. That's the sort of guy that's likely to get exposed when they step up to fighting even fights on a physical level. That's also why I felt that Spence (and Wilder) were going to get exposed, because even their fans had to admit they were very basic fighters. Hopefully I'm wrong about Benavidez, because boxing is better off with more guys at a really high level, and it will make for more fun fights to watch.

[CubanGuyNYC]

This ought to be a great fight. I hope that it lives up to its potential.
I like both fighters and either one can win this one. I'm going with Morrell though.

Yeah, that’s my main concern: that this fight live up to the hype. Of course I’m riding with Morrell, but it’s always such a letdown when a highly-anticipated fight goes dud — like Ramirez-Espinoza II. But unless someone gets caught cold, I doubt this one will be over early. Both men know that their future career hangs in the balance. I don’t think that’s an overstatement. Of course, they’ll fight on; but someone’s rep — and thus their earning power — will take a hit or gain a boost.

[CubanGuyNYC]

That's why I'm picking Morrell anyways. People get hung up on level of competition, but miss the point that against lower levels of competition, a fighter can get away with limited skills and they need to fight better competition to show if they have the skills to hang at a higher level. Other fighters, like Tank, Shakur, Boots Ennis, and Morrell, all show the skills even against lower levels of competition, so it's easier to favor them because you know they have the tools in the toolbox to win against all but the highest level of competition, when they face guys who also have the skills, and then they need something more. When the primary question is whether a guy has a great chin, or how good their power is, that's a different question than if he's got the skills to compete.

Guys like Devin Haney and Benavidez can look supremely skilled because they're dominant against smaller guys, but when you look at what they're actually doing, you see limited skills like jab and clinch for Haney, or walk and hook for Benavidez, and they also display flaws that smaller opponents can't physically take advantage of, like dropping the right during the jab for Haney, or walking up and compromising stance like Benavidez. That's the sort of guy that's likely to get exposed when they step up to fighting even fights on a physical level. That's also why I felt that Spence (and Wilder) were going to get exposed, because even their fans had to admit they were very basic fighters. Hopefully I'm wrong about Benavidez, because boxing is better off with more guys at a really high level, and it will make for more fun fights to watch.

How many times haven’t we seen a fighter exposed after facing someone on the next level? I think Morrell is potentially more in that spot than Benavidez. But Benny isn’t off the hook, either. His namesake is probably the best comp he’s faced yet — at least, I believe so.

[MulaKO]

Yeah, that’s my main concern: that this fight live up to the hype. Of course I’m riding with Morrell, but it’s always such a letdown when a highly-anticipated fight goes dud — like Ramirez-Espinoza II. But unless someone gets caught cold, I doubt this one will be over early. Both men know that their future career hangs in the balance. I don’t think that’s an overstatement. Of course, they’ll fight on; but someone’s rep — and thus their earning power — will take a hit or gain a boost.

will take a hit or gain a boost.

All depends how bad they lose or how bad they win
This could be a win win for both guys although I’m leaning towards the latter
I just think ( from what I saw vs Gvodzyk ) it will come down to conditioning and Benny has always lost stream in the later rounds
His Ko’s that have come in the second half have been against limited opposition
What I am saying is his punches lose steam in the second half

[zipped]

"Boom, he is going down 100 per cent. I promise you I will knock him out.”

Some promises are made to be broken. Just show us all at the appropriate time. Until then, please STFU.

Just like his brother Jose that Terence Crawford beat down to the canvas and embarrassed, David Benavidez hasn't shown us ANYTHING except fight smaller fighters, thinking like that is what got Jose's azz beat. So until David Benavidez can show the world that he is a monster at light heavy, him and his followers need to STFU!

[Joseph]

I'm sure Morrell has watched tape on Benavidez, and sees things he thinks he can take advantage of.

First, we all know Benavidez style is to come forward, usually just by walking, try to put his opponent on the ropes, and start winging punches. So, you either have to be comfortable fighting on the back foot and countering, which Morrell is, and has a 4" reach advantage to boot, or you need to be able to push Benavidez back and see how he can fight on the back foot. My guess is, not very well. So Morrell has a couple options to take Benavidez out of his comfort zone.

Benavidez likes to literally walk his opponents down. That takes him out of stance regularly, and puts him front foot heavy, meaning an opponent with good timing and reach can hit him as he tries to step into range when he can't counter because he's out of position. Morrell actually likes to set those sorts of traps, in which he'll move and engage as his opponents try to close range. That's part of his style. And a hard punch landed on a squared up opponent can result in a KD.

Benavidez (and Morrell) also defaults to a static high guard. This creates a lot of opportunities. It allows the opponent to work the body and sap stamina, and, if the opponent has a good lead hand, it provides openings, such as feinting the jab and coming around with the hook, or using the jab to strip the high guard and land the rear hand. Morrell has a better lead hand game than Benavidez, and since he's got a reach advantage and does rely on a jab far more than Benavidez, he'll likely establish a jab early and be able to create opportunities for himself.

Benavidez rarely uses jabs, and when he does, usually uses a single jab without either having the footwork to exit, or moving his head, and often recoils it low, leaving him open to jab counters, and Morrell has a wide variety of those that he uses regularly.

I would personally have Morrell fight Benavidez early like Caleb Plant did, banking rounds on the outside and working the body. I think we'll see Benavidez get hurt in the process, since Morrell has way more power than Plant. If Benavidez gasses in the later rounds, Morrell can try to push him back and negate his offense, as Benavidez doesn't really work on the back foot.

The openings for Benavidez vs Morrell will likely come from either sloppy jabs from Morrell, although those can be used to time and counter, Morrell's propensity to reach and fall in when throwing the rear hand, or using level changes to bait a high guard from Morrell and then working hooks as Benavidez likes to do.

But he's got to work his way in against a reach disadvantage and a nuanced lead hand game, and I just don't think Benavidez has the feet for that. If Benavidez can get into range consistently within the first 4 rounds, I expect he'll break Morrell down and win on points or maybe secure a late stoppage if Morrell's untested chin proves weak. But if Morrell can stay disciplined behind an active jab and keep Benavidez on the outside for the early rounds, I think we'll see him win on points or stop Benavidez mid to late. Benavidez' success to date has been from being the larger man IMO, although he's definitely fought the better competition. If either beats the other clearly, I for one will consider him a more believable challenger for the winner of Beterbiev v Bivol 2. Either way, I believe this fight will reveal the truth about both guys, one way or another.

This was an excellent breakdown. I wish I had the eye/patience to examine a fighter's most basic and/or extreme attributes/flaws like this. I don't. I can tell you when a fighter is doing something bad or good, but I'd freeze up if you asked me to detail why it's either, and I've been watching boxing for nearly as long as I've been alive (nearing fifty years). You make a good deal of sense and it's why I'm slightly leaning toward the upset with Morrell. That, and I almost always root for the under. It releases more adrenaline.

Having said that, Benny, flaws and all, is still a wild animal, and Morrell is going to have to get smart, mean, or both.

Well done, dude.

[CubanGuyNYC]

will take a hit or gain a boost.

All depends how bad they lose or how bad they win
This could be a win win for both guys although I’m leaning towards the latter
I just think ( from what I saw vs Gvodzyk ) it will come down to conditioning and Benny has always lost stream in the later rounds
His Ko’s that have come in the second half have been against limited opposition
What I am saying is his punches lose steam in the second half

Agreed. Even in a loss, someone’s stock can rise. I’m really referring to the majority of losses that don’t do that. It’s entirely possible — perhaps even likely — that this fight has a sequel or two. And I have to believe that if Morrell’s stamina is up to snuff, and Benny’s isn’t, the Cuban wins by clear decision or KO.

[MulaKO]

Agreed. Even in a loss, someone’s stock can rise. I’m really referring to the majority of losses that don’t do that. It’s entirely possible — perhaps even likely — that this fight has a sequel or two. And I have to believe that if Morrell’s stamina is up to snuff, and Benny’s isn’t, the Cuban wins by clear decision or KO.

No arguing here

[zipped]

canelo fans are already lining up to their hero FULL CREDIT for anything morell does in the ring BEACUSE canelo would have done it better!!!!! lolllllll they are praying that DB falls and falls hard

Canelo done got his azz whupped and his zero took by Floyd Mayweather. Then came those sorry-azz excuses why he got his azz beat. All we heard before their fight was: Floyd is gonna run, Floyd is gonna run, but Floyd tricked them and stood up in Canelo face and beat his AZZ. Floyd embarrassed and beat Canelo azz so bad nobody on the planet wanted to see that mis-match again. Then for some odd reason Canelo fan base and the powers that be (they) made Dimitrii Bivol an underdog against Canelo. I'm like what! WHY? That was just plain idiotic. Man, I know those folks who bet on Canelo were do do FACED after Bivol beat Canelo AZZ like he stole something. So please stop it with these sorry-azz dreams of Canelo being some kinda world class azz kicker when he VERY clearly IS NOT! And NEVER WAS.