Benavidez vs. Morrell: “We will find out the character of both men on February 1”, insists the coach

By José Herrón: The highly anticipated showdown to crown boxing’s next superstar, titled “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell,” will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 1, 2025. The main event pits two undefeated fighters, David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and David Morrell Jr. (11 -0, 9 KOs), against each other in a clash that has already sparked a fierce war of words between the sides.

Adding to the growing anticipation, renowned boxing trainer James Gogue, who has five decades of experience in the sport, recently assessed what’s at stake on the WAW BOXING podcast. While Benavidez is currently the slight betting favorite (-180) at most sportsbooks, Gogue believes the Phoenix native faces a formidable challenge.

“David Morrell Jr. is an incredibly talented fighter,” Gogue said. “You could see his natural talent from the moment he made his professional debut five years ago. He is an explosive puncher with both hands, has exceptional speed with his hands and feet, quick reflexes and excellent hand-eye coordination. His ability to seamlessly switch between orthodox and left-handed stances makes him dangerous in any situation. On top of that, his timing, his understanding of range and distance, and his versatility (whether fighting from mid-range, long-range, or close-quarters) make him the complete package.”

The Benavidez team has criticized Morrell’s relatively short professional career, arguing that his lack of experience could be a disadvantage. However, Gogue counters this skepticism with several compelling arguments.

“Yes, Morrell only has 11 professional fights on his record, but he has a deep amateur pedigree,” Gogue explained. “He has faced almost every style imaginable in the amateurs. Add to that his natural athleticism and the guidance of Ronnie Shields, one of the most experienced boxing trainers, and he doesn’t need 40 professional fights to take on the best in the division.”

Ronnie Shields, Morrell’s Hall of Fame-bound trainer, echoed these sentiments during his own podcast, “Real Boxing with Ronnie Shields.”

“David Morrell Jr. is the most athletically talented fighter in boxing today,” Shields said. “He’s ready to humiliate David Benavidez on February 1. The real question fans should be asking is whether fighters like Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are ready for Morrell.”

While Morrell’s skills and potential are widely recognized, Gogue highlighted a critical unknown heading into this career-defining fight.

“There’s a lot to like about Morrell and his future, but we’ve never seen him in a tough fight,” Gogue observed. “We don’t know how he will handle adversity or how strong his chin is. In boxing, there’s an old saying: never get too excited about a prospect until you see how well he can take a punch. We’ll probably get that answer on February 1 when he faces someone like Benavidez, who has knocked out 24 opponents in just 29 fights.

The stakes could not be higher as the boxing world awaits the outcome of “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell.” This epic clash will not only determine the next dominant force in the light heavyweight division, but will also introduce boxing’s next superstar to the American market. Tune in to this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, February 1, starting at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.