Three-time former cruiserweight champion Mairis Briedis predicts that David Morrell’s Cuban training as a boxer since childhood will lead to his victory over David Benavidez on February 1.
Benavidez I won’t be able to intimidate Morrell as he did when he fought against smaller, weaker and older fighters while competing at 168. Morrell is the same size, younger, stronger and won’t be intimidated in the same way fighters were beaten at super middleweight by Benavidez.
Fans viewed “the Mexican Monster” Benavidez as a heavyweight bully all these years, gaming the system by blending in to compete with 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 shock the world?
Briedis says ‘everyone’ believes interim WBC light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) will knock out Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), but believes his Cuban background will be too difficult to bear. Mexican Monster’ headlines at T-Mobile Arena.
Mairis says Morrell can fight from the outside, throw with power and fight from the inside. He has seen all styles of fighting during his years in Cuba as part of the national team. So, what Benavidez brings to the table in this fight will not be new to him.
Morrell arguably fought better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba, taking on the two-time Olympic gold medalist Julius Caesar La Cruz. This fighter would be a nightmare for Benavidez due to his size, power and technical skills.
Politics in the ring?
One question posed for the Benavidez-Morrell fight is judging. As Briedis points out, Benavidez is from the United States, while Morrell is from Cuba. He talks about politics. If the fight goes as planned, will the most popular fighter, Benavidez, the one with the huge fan base in the United States, get the decision, even though it appears he is lost?
In Benavidez’s last fight in Las Vegas against Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June, he earned a wide unanimous decision over 12 rounds in a fight that seemed very close. Gvozdyk appeared to have won five to six rounds in this fight, but the Nevada judges scored him against Benavidez with this series of lopsided scores: 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.
I watched the fight and I got it 114-114. Benavidez appeared to lose one of the first six rounds, then the last five as Gvozdyk came out on top with powerful punches against the tired “Mexican monster.” So if the Benavidez-Morrell fight is on the scorecards, will Morrell get the same treatment? Does he need a knockout to defeat the popular Benavidez with his huge fanbase in Nevada and the crowd by his side at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?
Cuban education
“Everyone thinks Benavidez will win by TKO, but I think Morrell comes from Cuba and Cuba is a very strong boxer. It’s a national sport for boxing,” said Mairis Briedis during his YouTube Channel, analyzing the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell fight on February 1.
“Morrell is a very smart guy, a young man, and he can fight long distances or like a puncher. These are two punchers who meet in the ring. My prediction, I think Morrell. They show something new for Benavidez. Speed, powerful shots and some interesting Cuban techniques.
“My prediction is that I think Morrell will win by unanimous decision. Benavidez fought with 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. Why because he (Benavidez) is from the United States and his fans are from the United States. Morrell is a Cuban, and what they have been doing since they were kids is boxing.
Morrell has been fighting since his childhood in Cuba against better fighters than Benavidez. He also had a more difficult life than Benavidez. His education, along with his superior speed, power, athletic ability, and technical skills, give him a huge advantage in this fight.
“The winner (of Benavidez vs. Morrell) will fight Beterbiev or Bivol. Benavidez-Morrell will be a very tough fight, and next up will be the toughest fight against Beterbiev or Bivol,” Briedis said.
