The WBC has confirmed that the winner of next month's fight between David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and David Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) will be the “mandatory challenger” for the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2. .

WBC mandate

If Bival is victorious in his rematch with undisputed light heavyweight champion Beterbiev, there is a possibility they will fight in a trilogy next. That means the Benavidez-Morel winner will have to wait until the third Beterbiev-Bivel fight before getting a crack at all four belts.

It will depend on what Turki al-Sheikh wants to do. If he wants to see an immediate third fight between Beterbiev and Bivol, it will happen.

“Undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev will rematch Dmitry Bivol on February 22 in Riyadh. Interim champion David Benavidez will fight David Morrell on February 1. The winner will advance to fight the winner of the division's mandatory matchup, Beterbeev vs. Bivol. WBC.

Power at 175?

“I hope it happens. I don't think it's going to happen, no,” David Benavidez told PPV channel About his hope that he can fight Canelo Alvarez. “A lot of people ask me, 'When are you going to fight?' i don't know

“It depends on Canelo. If he wants to fight, we can make it happen. Everyone knows it's the biggest fight in boxing. So, whenever that time comes I am ready for it.

This is the same reason I took this fight (David Morrell). I was already preparing for a tough fight in my head, I think there is no better experience than going up against these tough fighters. It's going to prepare me for whatever comes next.

“I want to be the most dangerous fighter in boxing. I want to be one of those fighters you remember, like (Gennady) Golovkin and Julio Cesar Chavez. I want to be that kind of warrior. I am not behind anyone. I'm not afraid of anyone, and this is one way I can prove it,” said Benavidez.

Benavidez will never be in the league of Gennady Golovkin or Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. because he doesn't have the power. Morel is more of a Golovkin-level fighter than Benavidez. 'The Mexican Monster' is a volume puncher, and he won't be a power guy at 175. At the age of 28, he will not suddenly find the strength he never had.

Every fighter wants to be blessed with Beterbiev-level power, but those are special people who only come along occasionally. Benavidez is still a good basic volume guy and could make a good living despite being knocked out by big puncher Morel on February 1st. You have to be born with genetics for power, and Benavidez was not blessed in that department.

Underrated skills

“I think there are aspects of my game that are underrated. IQ is one of them. Defense is another one of them. The third is my strength. Man, I don't know what it is about them. They think because I love to eat and I get a little fluffy in the off-season, that I have no power.

“Everything changes when they get in the ring with me. So, I think everything I do is underrated. I feel like I'm not a good fighter until they get in the ring with me and see, 'Oh, this guy is a problem,'” Benavidez said.

Unfortunately, he didn't give examples of fighters who didn't like him until they got in the ring with him. Benavidez's resume is weak, and he has never fought high-level fighters in his 12-year professional career. So, when he talks about the Warriors saying, 'This guy's a problem,' it's saying nothing because he's faced B- and C-level opposition throughout his career.

Benavidez's best wins:

– Oleksandr Govozdik: 37 and recently out of 4 years of retirement
– Demetrius Andrade: 36
– Caleb Plant: Post-Canelo knockout loss
– Anthony Dirrell: 38
– David Lemieux: Journeyman
-Roma Alexis Angulo: the same
– Ronald Ellis
– Ronald Gavril

This is Benavidez's best win, and there isn't anyone you could say is a good enough fighter to make a big deal about him. He pumped himself up as elite, but who did he beat to prove it? Benavidez waited three years to fight Morrell after he was called up in 2022, and you have to wonder why. He didn't want to lose to Cuba.