Can David Benavidez avoid getting knocked out by David Morrell?

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith worries about David Benavidez getting hurt because he stands in front of his opponents, doesn’t move, and doesn’t use any moves. Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) stands in front of his opponent and lets go of his hands.

(Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions)

Smith’s concerns

Interim WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez could be injured in his next fight when he faces David Morrell on Feb. 1 in their 12-round bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

If Benavidez is knocked out in this fight, he will have to decide whether to try to move back to 168 or stay at 175 and settle for being a contender instead of a world champion.

Morrell is as big as Benavidez but much stronger, faster and more technically gifted. He came from the Cuban school of boxing and didn’t learn all the bad habits that Benavidez had during his years fighting lesser opposition.

Smith is a big fan of Benavidez, and it seems he still has his head wrapped around Canelo Alvarez, who is due to fight him. This fight will not happen. Now they’re in different divisions, and Canelo is finishing his career at 168 to pick and choose.

Benavidez, 28, has developed a style that has worked for him because he’s been bigger than his opponents, fighting in a division below his frame for 11 years at 168 before finally moving up to 175.

In his debut at 175 against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, we saw Benavidez get hit frequently. Moving forward, he won’t be able to score knockouts like he did when he fought smaller fighters at 168.

“I’m a big fan of David Benavidez. I love Canelo too, but I don’t like the fact that Canelo is taking so long to give him a match,” Stephen A. Smith told the Sean Zittel channel “I applaud David Benavidez because he does not hide from anyone and is ready to fight at all times.

“He’s ‘The Mexican Monster.’ Sometimes I wonder if anyone’s going to hurt him because he’s right in front of them. He doesn’t move, but he clearly shows that he can take a punch, and he sure can throw one with either hand,” Smith continued of Benavidez.

“He’s got speed, he’s got power, he’s got boxing skill and he’s got heart. I don’t know if there’s a bigger David Benavidez fan than me. I really loved his skills and I want to see him on the big stage,” Smith said .

Stephen A. is a casual boxing fan, not the hardcore variety, who follows the sport closely. So he doesn’t realize that Benavidez is no longer in Canelo’s orbit. He also doesn’t seem to be aware that Benavidez never fought elite opposition to earn his “Mexican Monster” moniker in the truest sense. He was essentially a heavyweight bully who fought older and smaller veterans.

The handshake incident

“Benavidez messed up trying to shake his hand. These Cuban guys have a playful attitude, but they really hate it when they think someone thinks they can beat them,” trainer Greg Hackett told YSM Sports Mediatalking about today’s altercation.

After all the things Benavidez said about Morrell, there was no way he was going to shake Morrell’s hand during their showdown today in Miami. Benavidez shouldn’t have even tried to shake Morrell’s hand because he was asking for trouble.

“When Benavidez came up to him and tried to shake his hand, he shouldn’t have done that. Morrell said, ‘No, we’re not in this.’ and now you want to shake hands?’”