Benavidez's Heavyweight Future If Morel Wins?

Trainer Jose Benavidez Sr. predicts that his son, “Mexican Monster” David Benavidez, will “destroy” David Morrell in their light heavyweight contest in 11 days on February 1st on PBC on Prime Video PPV in Las Vegas.

This fight will show if Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is just “fake” A “monster” living off the hype he got from fighting lesser opposition at 168, or if he really was. Morel 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, he could be exposed by Morrell (11-0, 9 KO).

Have you already planned an exit strategy?

According to Team Morrell, Benavidez hovers between 215 and 220. So, he has the size to reinvent himself at heavyweight 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 heavyweight to try to salvage his career in that division. Staying at 175 would be a mistake for him, because if he can't beat Morel, then he certainly won't have success against Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol.

Jose Sr. is already discussing exit strategydiscussing the possibility of Benavidez moving up to heavyweight to challenge WBA and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez for his belts. He will have to wait his turn until IBF champion Jai Opetaia takes on Zurdo in a three-belt unification. But either of those guys would be ready to fight Benavidez as he is coming off a loss to Morrell.

Even if he was knocked out by Morrell, they would be willing to fight him because he would still be popular and probably have excuses to explain his loss. He mentioned injuries to explain why he underperformed against Aleksandar Gvozdik and fans believed him. He could do the same if he lost to Morel, and people would give him a pass.

“We are 100% locked in with Morrell. He's a healthy fighter, a younger fighter. He's a two-time world champion and he's hungry. We don't underestimate this guy,” Jose Benavidez Sr. told the Sean Zitel for David Morrell, who faces David Benavidez on February 1st.

“We are 100% there. David (Benavides) is 28 years old. I think David will destroy him (Morell). Let's focus on that right now. David certainly has big dreams. He wants to fight the winner. Who doesn't want to fight the winner of Bivolu and Beterbiev? Maybe even fight Zurdo Ramirez at heavyweight.

“These fights are great. Great monsters in this division and there are great options at this weight. Zurdo Ramirez is going to fight the other guy (IBF heavyweight champion Jai Opetaia) for the belt and hopefully we get the opportunity to do that as well,” Benavidez Sr. said.