Benavidez’s future cruise if Morrell wins?

Coach José Benavidez Sr. predicts that his son, ‘The Mexican Monster’ David Benavidez, will go to “destroy” David Morrell in his lightweight contest in 11 days on February 1st at PBC on Prime Video PPV in Las Vegas.

This fight will show if Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is just a “fake“Monster”, living off the charm he got from fighting smaller opposition at 168, or if he’s for real. Morrell says he’s seen fighters like Benavidez and considers him 100% “fake.”

Now that Benavidez is fighting at 175 against a younger fighter his size, but with more power, Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) could expose him.

Is the exit strategy already planned?

According to Team Morrell, Benavidez walks between 215 and 220. So he has the size to reinvent himself at cruiserweight if he falls short against the talented Cuban on February 1st.

If Benavidez loses, he may have to decide if he wants to move up to cruiserweight to try and save his career at that weight class. Staying at 175 would be a mistake for him because if he can’t beat Morrell, he certainly won’t have success against Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.

Jose Mr. is already discussing one exit strategydiscussing the possibility of Benavidez moving up to cruiserweight to challenge WBA and WBO champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez for their belts. He would have to wait his turn until IBF champion Jai Opetaia faces Zurdo in a three-belt unification. But either of those guys would be open to fighting Benavidez with him after a loss to Morrell.

Even if Morrell takes him out, they’d be willing to fight him because he’d still be popular, and he’d probably have excuses to explain his loss. He cited injuries to explain why he performed poorly against Oleksandr Gvozdyk, and the fans believed him. He could do the same if he loses to Morrell, and people would give him a pass.

“We’re 100% locked in on Morrell. He’s a tough fighter, a younger fighter. He’s a two-time world champion and he’s hungry. We’re not underestimating this guy,” said Jose Benavidez Sr Sean Zittel over David Morrell, who David Benavidez faces on February 1st.

“We’re in it 100 percent. David (Benavidez) is 28 years old. In my mind, I think David is going to destroy him (Morrell). We’re focused on that right now. David has big dreams for sure. He wants to fight the winner. Who doesn’t he want to fight the winner of Bivol and Beterbiev? Maybe even have a fight with Zurdo Ramirez at cruiserweight.

“These fights are great. Big monsters in this division, and there are big opportunities at this weight. Zurdo Ramirez will fight the other (IFB Cruiserweight Champion Jai Opetaia) for the belt, and hopefully, we’ll have the opportunity to do that as well,” said Benavidez Sr.