Morrell’s Cuban education to overthrow Benavidez

Three-time former cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis predicts that David Morrell’s Cuban upbringing as a boxer since childhood will lead to his victory over David Benavidez on February 1.

Benavidez He won’t be able to intimidate Morrell as he did when fighting smaller, weaker and older fighters when competing at 168. Morrell is the same size, younger, stronger and will not be intimidated the way Benavidez beat fighters at super middleweight.

Fans saw ‘The Mexican Monster’ Benavidez as a heavyweight bully all those years, gaming the system by merging to compete against smaller fighters in a division below his massive light heavyweight/cruiserweight frame.

Benavidez didn’t look like the same fighter in his last fight when he moved up to 175 against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15.

Can Morrell surprise the world?

Briedis says “everyone” believes interim WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is going to knock out Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), but feels his Cuban past will be too much for ‘The Mexican Monster’ ‘ headlining the T-Mobile Arena.

Mairis says Morrell can fight from the outside, throw with power and fight inside. He has seen all styles of fighting during his years in Cuba on the National team. So what Benavidez brings to this fight won’t be new to him.

Morrell has arguably fought better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba, facing the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Julio Cesar La Cruz. That fighter would be a nightmare for Benavidez due to his size, power and technical skills.

Politics in the ring?

One question being asked for the Benavidez-Morrell fight is judging. As Briedis points out, Benavidez is from the United States, while Morrell is from Cuba. Mention politics. If the fight is decided, will the decision be given to the most popular fighter, Benavidez, the one who has a huge fan base in the US, even if it appears he is a loser?

In Benavidez’s last fight in Las Vegas against Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June, he received a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision in a fight that appeared to be very close. It looked like Gvozdyk had won five to six rounds in that fight, but the Nevada judges gave it to Benavidez with this lopsided set of scores: 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.

I saw the fight and I had it 114-114. Benavidez appeared to lose one of the first six rounds, and then the last five when Gvozdyk attacked the tired ‘Mexican Monster’ with heavy punches. So if the Benavidez-Morrell fight comes to the cards, will Morrell receive similar treatment? Does he need a knockout to beat the popular Benavidez with his large fan base in Nevada and the crowd at his side at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?

Cuban schooling

“Everyone thinks that Benavidez will win by technical knockout, but I think Morrell comes from Cuba and Cuba are very strong boxers. “It is a national sport for boxing,” said Mairis Briedis in his YouTube channel, analyzing the fight between David Benavidez and David Morrell on February 1.

“Morrell is a very smart guy, a young guy, and he can fight at long distances or as a puncher. These are two punchers who meet in the ring. My prediction, I think Morrell. They show something new for Benavidez. Speed, strong blows and some interesting Cuban techniques.

“My prediction is that I think Morrell wins by unanimous decision. Benavidez fought stronger opponents than Morrell. I mean, Morrell didn’t fight very strong guys. I hope Morrell wins by unanimous decision.

In the United States there are some small policies. Because he (Benavidez) comes from the United States and his fans come from the United States. “Morrell is a Cuban boy and what he has done since he was little is box.”

Morrell has been fighting since he was a child in Cuba against better fighters than Benavidez. He has also had a harder life than Benavidez. His education, along with his superior speed, power, athletic ability, and technical skills, give him a tremendous advantage in this fight.

“The winner (of Benavidez vs. Morrell) will fight Beterbiev or Bivol. Benavidez-Morrell will be a very tough fight and the next step is the tougher fight against Beterbiev or Bivol,” Briedis said.