Three-time former cruiserweight champion Myris Bridis predicts David Morell's childhood Cuban schooling as a boxer will lead to his victory over David Benavidez on February 1st.

Benavidez Can't bully Morel As he did when competing at 168 against smaller, weaker and older fighters. Morrell is the same size, short, strong, and won't be bullied by Benavidez the way fighters were beaten at super middleweight.

Fans watched 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez as a weight bully all those years, melting down the system to compete against smaller fighters in a division beneath his massive light heavyweight/cruiserweight frame.

Benavidez didn't resemble the same fighter he was in his last fight when he stepped up to 175 against Oleksandr Govozdyk on June 15th.

Can Morel shock the world?

Briedis says “everyone” believes WBC interim light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is going to knock out Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), but he thinks his Cuban background is 'the' will be too much for Mexican Monsters' in their headliner at T-Mobile Arena.

Myris said Morell can fight on the outside, throw with power and fight inside. He has seen all fighting styles during his years in Cuba on the national team. So, what Benavidez brings to the table in this fight won't be new to him.

Morel has arguably fought better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba, going up against the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Julio Cesar La Cruz. That fighter will be a nightmare for Benavidez because of his size, strength and technical ability.

Politics in the ring?

One question brewing for the Benavidez-Morel fight is judging. As Bridis points out, Benavidez is from the United States, while Morel is from Cuba. He mentions politics. If the fight goes to the card, will the more popular fighter, Benavidez, with a huge fanbase in the US, be given the decision, even if it looks like he's lost?

In Benavidez's last fight last June in Las Vegas against Ukrainian Oleksandr Gvozdyk, he was awarded a 12-round unanimous decision in a contest that appeared to be razor-close. Gvozdyk looked like he won rounds five through six of that fight, but the Nevada judges scored it for Benavidez by this one-sided set of scores: 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109.

I watched the fight and it was 114-114. Benavidez lost one of the first six rounds and then came back strong against the tired 'Mexican Monster' with Govozdic power punches in the final five rounds. So, if the Benavidez-Morel fight goes to the scorecards, will Morel be given the same treatment? Does he need a knockout to win against Benavidez, popular with his huge fanbase in Nevada and the crowd on his side at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas?

Cuban schooling

“Everyone thinks Benavidez will win by TKO, but I think Morel is from Cuba and Cubans are very strong boxers. It's a national sport for boxing,” Myris Bridis said of him YouTube Channel analyzing the David Benavidez vs David Morrell fight on February 1st.

“Morel is a very smart guy, a young man and he can fight at long range or punch. These are the two punchers that meet in the ring. My prediction, I think Morrell. They show something new for Benavidez. Speed, powerful punches and some interesting Cuban techniques.

“My prediction is I think Morell will win by unanimous decision. Benavidez fought a stronger opponent than Morel. I mean, Morel didn't fight very strong guys. I expect Morel to win by unanimous decision.

In the United States, there is little politics. Because he (Benvidez) is from the United States, and his fans are from the United States. Morel is a Cuban guy, and boxing is what they do since childhood.”

Morel has been fighting better fighters than Benavidez in Cuba since he was a kid. He had a tougher life than Benavidez. His upbringing along with his superior speed, strength, athletic ability and technical skills give him a tremendous advantage in this fight.

“The winner (Benvidez vs. Morel) will fight Beterbiev or Bivol. Benavidez-Morel will be a very tough fight, and the next step is the toughest fight against Beterbiev or Bivol,” said Bridis.