David Benavidez and David Morrell Jr in heated face-off
Undefeated light heavyweight stars David “El Monstro” Benavidez and David Morrell Jr. continued their heated rivalry at a media workout in Miami on Tuesday, nearly coming to blows during their face-off before ultimately being separated by their respective teams.
The fight has been more than two years in the making and they will finally meet in the ring for Benavidez’s Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Title and Morrell’s WBA Light Heavyweight Title in the main event of a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video taking place Saturday, February 1 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The showdown between Benavidez and Morrell pits two of the sports’ most exciting fighters against each other in the primes of their career, with the winner not only establishing himself as the future of the light heavyweight division, but as a potential force on pound-for-pound lists and one of the faces of boxing for years to come.
After a heated press conference in Los Angeles last month, the Benavidez and Morrell again expressed their mutual distaste for each other throughout Tuesday’s event.
The pay-per-view lineup features a bevy of the sport’s top talent, as WBC Featherweight World Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa and former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. meet in a much-anticipated rematch in the co-main event.
Plus, fan-favourite and former world champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz takes on hard-charging contender Angel Fierro in an all-Mexican pay-per-view undercard attraction, and rising Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. and former unified champion Jeison Rosario square off in the pay-per-view opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Here is what Benavidez and Morrell had to say Tuesday from BOXR Gym in Miami:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“I don’t care about his trash talk. I’m ready for February 1. I’m super focused on one objective, and that’s inflicting damage on David Morrell. I’m coming for the knockout.
“This is all more fuel to the flame to go in there and do what I have to do. Now I’m really gonna put a beating on him.
“This guy is trying to act hard. It is what it is. On February 1, none of this matters. I’m gonna break his mouth.
“I got the experience, I got the belt and I got everything I need. It’s good he’s got the Cubans with him today, because when he gets knocked out, they’re all gonna leave him.
“He better do what he says he’s gonna do. We’re gonna see on February 1. I’m glad he’s talking about this being an easy fight.
We’ve been in the gym and we’re working hard. When I get in the ring, I’m gonna be 100%. Everyone better get ready.
“They all say the same nonsense before they get in the ring with me. Then they get in there, and it’s a different story.
“The thing about this is that it’s not fake. We don’t like each other. We have everything we need for a great fight. Nobody is gonna stop me. This is my year and this is the era of David Benavidez.”
DAVID MORRELL JR.
“He didn’t respect me at our first press conference, so I’m giving it back to him. This is my time. I don’t need to show him any respect.
“He looks like RoboCop in there. He’s got no head movement or anything. This is really an easy fight for me. I’m gonna show him the Cuban boxing skills.
“I feel great and I’m very excited to be here in Miami, because it always feels like home. I can’t wait for this moment on February 1.
‘I’m 100% focused in training camp and I’ve got great support from my team and my family down in Texas with me. This is the fight of my life. A win can change everything for me. This is my moment.
“I’m going to have Cuba on my mind when I enter the ring. I’m fighting for my family and for Cuba. Everything in my career has led to this.
“I have to be aggressive and make sure that I make my people proud and show that Cuba is number one. On February 1, I’ll make sure everybody knows who the real boogeyman is in this division”
“Everyone says things, but I’m trying to stay even keeled and work on the fundamentals. If I do that, then I’m gonna succeed.”