“Nothing to gain, everything to lose”: Benavidez Sr. on the Morrell Challenge

Jose Benavidez Sr. says his son, ‘The Mexican Monster’, David Benavidez, has “nothing to gain” and “everything to lose” in his fight against WBA ‘ordinary’ light heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1st.

The “Nothing to Gain” argument

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is better known and more experienced against Cuban Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs). Fans unfamiliar with Morrell, 26, won’t credit Benavidez with beating him. If he loses to him, it will be a disaster, destroying his hopes of fights against Artur Beterbiev, Dmitri Bivol and Canelo Alvarez.

You wonder why Benavidez bothered to take this fight against Morrell with so much to lose. Jose Sr. says they accepted the challenge because they want to prove to fans that they are the best at 175, just like they showed when they were at 168.

The networks and the fans were interested in the Benavidez-Morrell fight, and they had to take this risky match because the alternatives against Joshua Buatsi were just as difficult.

“The plan of Team Benavidez, ‘The Mexican Monster’, is to make history and be the best in the division. We’re here to give the fans what they want to see,” Jose Benavidez Sr. said. said YSM Sports Media.

Of course we want the big fights: the Canelo fight, the Beterbiev fight, the Bivol fight and the Zurdo Ramirez fight. I believe we have to keep showing and giving the fans what they want to see.

“We just have to stay active. We want to be known as the fighters who never dodged anyone or never ran away from anyone. We are here to deliver the fights fans want to see. I believe this is a tough fight that the fans want to see,” said Benavidez Sr.

Jose Sr. say they never “dodged” anyone, but fans believe that Benavidez ducked Morrell for two solid years, fighting less dangerous guys, some of them old fighters. Benavidez claimed that it is better for them to fight the famous Demetrius Andrade and Caleb Plant than to face Morrell. Andrade is not popular. It also doesn’t explain why Benavidez fought David Lemieux, Ronald Ellis and Kyrone Davis.

“We’re fighting a Cuban who is young, strong, left-handed and a two-time world champion,” Jose Sr. said. “It’s not an easy fight, but I believe in my heart and what I see from David’s (Benavidez) training; I think he’s on another level.

“So, we are here to give you guys a good fight and look spectacular to keep claiming through the rankings to one day be the best and make history. That’s the plan. All these fights are hard, but like I said. We want to make history.”

If it works out in Benavidez’s favor, he will defeat Morrell and the Artur Beterbiev winner vs. Dmitry Bivol reunion beat. That would make him the undisputed champion at 175, and likely a rematch with whomever he beats to capture the four belts. Canelo might be interested in moving up to light heavyweight to challenge Benavidez for his title because his popularity would be sky high.

“We want to show the people why we are called the best at 168. and 175 because we keep putting on these dangerous fights like this fight. What is there to gain from this battle?” Benavidez Sr. said of the Morrell clash in 32 days. “We have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”

Against the critics

Jose Sr. is wrong to think that the fight against Morrell will not benefit him. This fight will increase Benavidez’s popularity, and fans will praise him.

“When we win this fight, I guarantee you people are going to say, ‘Oh, we knew David Morrell wasn’t ready.’ We must keep testing ourselves. We have to give the fans what they want to make history and we keep learning,” Benavidez Sr. said.