With plenty of animosity heading into their main event PBC pay-per-view light heavyweight showdown, David Benavidez of Phoenix, Arizona (29-0, 24 KOs) and David Morrell Jr. of Santa Clara, Cuba (11-0, 9 KOs) won’t look to go the distance once the bell rings Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although Benavidez gave Morrell a good shove at their announcement news conference in December after Morrell refused to shake his hand, there was no such drama during today’s Grand Arrival event for fans at the MGM Grand Hotel, a traditional event for fans to see their favorite fighters up close.
The ritual kicks off the big fight weeks in Las Vegas. Fans understand the fighters aren’t going to put in a full workout or give away their fight plans, but they love the event and often wait for hours, packing the hotel.
But Benavidez didn’t hold back on his aggressive approach to his opponent this weekend.
“I’ve been working extremely hard,” said Benavidez. “And like I told you guys, I was gonna break David Morrell’s face. I’m a man of my word. That’s exactly what I’m gonna do this Saturday.”
See video of the Benavidez vs. Morrell Grand Arrivals here.
Benavidez Transition to Light Heavyweight
Benavidez defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk of Kharkiv, Ukraine (20-2, 16 KOs) for the vacant WBC interim light heavyweight title by unanimous decision last June. With the victory, Benavidez became the mandatory challenger for the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2, who will meet in a rematch for the undisputed light heavyweight championship on February 22.
The WBC interim light heavyweight champion moved up to 175 pounds after spending his career at super middleweight, where he captured the WBC title twice, and became the youngest super middleweight champion in history at age 20 in 2017.
Benavidez will have the WBC mandatory challenger status at stake, and would like to get his hands on the WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight title with a win against Morrell.
“I’m extremely ready, like I told you guys,” said Benavidez. “You guys gonna see a great fight. I prepared extremely well for this fight. And I told you guys, don’t blink ’cause this fight is gonna end early.”
Undefeated Morrell Believes It’s His Time
Morrell will make his first defense of the WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight title after he defeated Radivoje Kalajdzic of Belgrade, Serbia (29-3, 21 KOs) for the vacant belt by unanimous decision last August. The Cuban native will return to the T-Mobile Arena for the second time, where he had a first-round knockout victory against Yamaguchi Falcão of Sao Mateus, Espirito Santo, Brazil (24-2-1, 10 KOs) in April 2023.
“It’s my second time fighting in (Las) Vegas, my first time on pay-per-view,” said Morrell. “I’m so excited for this opportunity. I think it’s a big opportunity to open the door for the Cuban people that follow me. I’m so excited for this moment. I’m happy.”
Like his opponent, Benavidez, the WBA (regular) light heavyweight title holder moved up one division from super middleweight. Morrell previously held the WBA regular title at 168 pounds, making six defenses of the belt.
As both undefeated light heavyweights have called their upcoming fight “personal,” Morrell made it clear he will seek to win by knockout.
“I need to win one hundred percent. I can’t lose,” said Morrell. “I can’t do it because I have everything for winning (against) him. I cannot lose this fight because it’s my time. It’s my moment. 2025 is mine. It’s not for anybody. It’s mine.”
