Myth or Monster? Benavidez vs Morrell Asks The Question

The rivalry between undefeated light heavyweights David “El Monstro” Benavidez of Phoenix and David Morrell Jr. of Minneapolis via Cuba was on full display at the final news conference Thursday prior to their fight on Saturday, February 1, headlining a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view event on Prime Video from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With their undefeated records and standing as the mandatory challenger to fight the division’s unified champion following the rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitriy Bivol, the stakes for the outcome for Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9 KOs) are higher than merely the two minor WBC and WBA titles involved.

David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. pose on stage after their heated news conference on Thursday, kept at a safe distance by TGB president Tom Brown. Photo: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing Champions

Benavidez and Morrell have become rivals for the top spot, and they’re feeling it. As a result, things got spicy on stage. This is why it’s always wise to have the towering figure of TGB Promotions president Tom Brown handy to keep the peace.

“Trust me, this is going to be a very, very violent fight,” said Brown. “Both of these guys like to take your head off with every shot, and they both can really crack. I believe that this has the makings of a modern-day classic. I believe this fight will be so brutal and so close, fans will warrant a rematch and maybe a trilogy. I’m looking forward to this fight very much.”

David Benavidez: Morrell Will See What I’m Made Of

David Benavidez insists he will knock out David Morrell Jr., claiming he’s not the toughest opponent he’s ever faced. Photo: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing Champions

Benavidez took the stage, saying he had trained extremely hard and was ready for Morrell.

“Now, we’re coming with our full energy, unlike this pussy,” said Benavidez. “He’s nervous, and he’s not ready. He looks scared right now,” declared Benavidez. Turning to Morrell, he added, “When you step into that ring this Saturday, that’s ‘El Monstro’s’ world, and you’re going to see exactly what the fuck I’m made of.

“I’m going in there to try to hurt him in every single round. I have the strongest fighting spirit in all of boxing. “You guys will see exactly who El Monstruo is this Saturday,” added Benavidez.

Benavidez said Morrell isn’t his toughest opponent, far from it. He said no matter who steps in front of him, they all say after their loss that Benavidez is the best man they’re faced, and Morrell will say the same.

“I’ve fought way better fighters. Everybody I’ve fought says the same thing. But where are they all after the fight?” asked Benavidez. “They all say David Benavidez is the best, and that’s what David Morrell is gonna say, ‘David Benavidez is the best.’ They’re gonna see that I’m not the one to be played with,” said Benavidez.

David Morrell Jr.: I Want to End The Myth That He’s A Monster

David Morrell Jr. expressed confidence in his ability to bust the myth of The Monster. Photo: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing Champions

Morrell Jr. blew off the bravado from Benavidez with spicy comments of his own. “It’s going to be a spectacle.

“What do you mean, bro? “The name The Monster’ is bullshit! He talks a lot, but we’ll see what happens after the fight. Keep talking!” said Morrell, who said he wanted this fight to end the myth about The Monster and added that Benavidez had disrespected him and other opponents.

“I want to end all that Monster bullshit he’s been talking about. Everyone he’s faced so far has either been on the verge of retirement or had to come up or come down in weight.

“I want to end the myth that he’s a monster. One hundred percent. Everybody says they’re afraid of him or whatever. I want to show I’m not afraid of him in the least. I’m going to bust him up.

“He’s used to everyone being afraid of him. I’m not one of those other fighters. I’m not going anywhere,” said Morrell Jr., who added he feels no pressure and isn’t afraid of being in the spotlight.

“If he thinks he’s going to break my face, he’s got another thing coming. David, you’re used to everyone being afraid of you. I’m not one of those.

“Anyone who knows anything about Cuban boxing knows that we’re up for whatever, and we’re not afraid of anything.”

War of Words Gets Muy Caliente

David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. took over the final news conference to argue over their behavior at previous press events. Photo: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing Champions

The fighters escalated the war of words over a beef about who shook hands and who didn’t at the announcement news conferences in Los Angeles and Miami and whether Morrell Jr. tried to throw his belt at Benavidez. Voices were raised, and insults were hurled.

Jose Benavidez Sr., David’s father and trainer, and Morrell’s manager, Luis DeCubas Sr. of Warriors Boxing, piled on as the squabble continued for several minutes, mainly in Spanish.

“In California, he came and shook my fucking hand! At the faceoff in Miami, he didn’t want to shake my fucking hand. Did you fucking forget you shook my hand?” said Benavidez Jr., who then paused to blast Morrell Jr. for speaking Spanish with a Cuban accent.

“You know what time it is,” said Benavidez.

Morrell Jr. let out one of several big sighs of the night. “I have no words for what he just said.”

See the entire news conference on Thursday, including the undercard fighters here.

But Wait, There’s More. Cue DeCubas Sr.

DeCubas Sr. has seen it all and got into it with Benavidez.

David Morrell’s manager, Luis DeCubas Sr., and David Benavidez decided to go at it. Photo: Esther Lin, Premier Boxing Champions

“I want to thank David Benavidez for having the courage to step up and take this fight. He had the balls to step up, which I gotta give him credit for.” As Benavidez interrupted DeCubas to agree, he replied, “What I gotta find out if is you got a chin. This guy’s going to knock you out, I’m telling you.”

Benavidez lit up DeCubas, accusing him of taking too big a cut from Morrell’s purse. “He knows what he’s making!” spat DeCubas. “I’ve been in this rodeo for 40 fucking years. It takes a lot more to make me nervous than your fucking mouth. You’re fucking scared, I can see it in your eyes.”

Predictions: No Final Bell

Asked to predict what would happen Saturday, Morrell Jr. replied, “The real question is what’s NOT going to happen. Everything is going to happen. One hundred percent, I’m knocking out David Benavidez.”

Benavidez couldn’t let it go. “I want to see what he’s going to do. I hope you trained for this fight because I don’t want any fucking excuses after I knock you the fuck out. Remember that.”

Benavidez’s good-natured promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, isn’t one to get ruffled feathers and put the event back into perspective.

“I forgot who’s fighting now,” laughed Lewkowicz. “I want to apologize for the behavior of my friend Luis De Cubas.

“This fight will not sell more because you’re screaming. This fight will sell because it’s a war. I believe it will be the best fight of the year. So we don’t need anybody to scream and curse because this fight will sell by itself.”