WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight titleholder David Morrell Jr 10-0 (9) still wants a shot at WBC interim titleholder David ‘El Monstruo’ Benavidez 28-0 (24) after blasting out Sena Agbeko 28-3 (22) in two rounds at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Benavidez of Phoenix, Arizona is just weeks removed from his stunning sixth-round knockout victory over former two-weight titleholder Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade 32-1 (19) at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25.
Morrell and Benavidez are clearly the best two boxers in the weight class not named Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez 60-2-2 (39). The 33-year-old Mexican superstar holds the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and Ring Magazine world titles at 168-pounds.
“I first wanna say they were calling us out first,” said Luis DeCubas Sr, chief operating officer of Warriors Boxing. “They been calling us out for years. Then after we said we wanted the fight, okay[Benavidez’s] father started going back and forth.
“We had the deal made for November. He was supposed to come in the ring when [Morrell] knocked out [Yamaguchi] Falcao [in April]. He never came in, he hid. He ran away, okay? I’ve been in boxing 40 years. I saw in his eyes. I saw the fear. You know, now we’re ready. Now he can’t hide no more.
“You know, I know what your mentality is – you get the Canelo fight, God bless you. If you don’t get it, there’s nobody else to fight. Quit fighting 154-pounders, man. [David] Lemieux’s a ’54-pounder. Andrade’s a ’54-pounder. Kyrone Davis, you saw him fight tonight, he’s a small guy. They been getting him small guys. [Morrell] is a full-fledged super middleweight and the Carlos Monzon of our time, right here.”
Alvarez hasn’t settled on a dance partner for his regular Cinco de Mayo fight date but one name suspected to be in the frame is Mexican Jaime Munguia 42-0 (33) who faces British southpaw John Ryder 32-6 (18) at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on January 27.
The fight is very much seen as an audition for an Alvarez fight. Ryder went the distance with the undisputed champion in a losing effort in May and if Munguia, 27, can finish him off inside the distance, the drums will start banging for an Alvarez fight.
Benavidez has made it clear he wants Alvarez next, but DeCubas says he needs to be patient and face Morrell first.
“If he doesn’t fight Canelo, everybody in boxing wants to see this fight,” DeCubas said. “The fans aren’t stupid. They know this is the guy [Morell]… Just read the comments. The people that are paying to watch the fights, 80 percent of the people got this guy as the winner [versus Benavidez]. Why do you think they’re avoiding us? Because they know, because they’re afraid. ‘I’ll go up to ’75 and fight Bivol.’ That’s what [Benavidez] said.”
Morrell has been moved quickly since his pro debut four years ago and so far it has proven to be a genius move.
“You know, we fast-tracked him real fast,” DeCubas said. “Nobody’s ever done what he’s done. With 10 professional fights, [he’s in] the same breath as Canelo, Benavidez. People talk, ‘Hey, he can beat [Benavidez].’ Most of the comments say he can beat Benavidez. Eighty percent of the comments of the fans, not me.”
