David Benavidez gets David Morrell next in 175-pound bout

[Ledhed1]

Mike Coppinger, ESPN

David Benavidez will meet David Morrell in a high-stakes light heavyweight bout, Benavidez announced Tuesday on Instagram.

The 175-pound bout will headline a PBC pay-per-view card and is expected to take place Jan. 25 in Las Vegas.

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) was in talks to fight fringe contender Jesse Hart on Dec. 14 on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach title bout, according to sources, but he secured a far more compelling bout.

Benavidez has chased boxing's top star, Canelo Álvarez, for years. Álvarez hasn't shown any interest in such a matchup, so Benavidez made the jump from 168 to 175 pounds this summer with a decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Benavidez, 27, who fights out of Miami, is a former two-time titleholder at 168 pounds.

Now, Benavidez is prepared for the toughest test of his career. Cuba's Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) also made the move to light heavyweight this summer. He encountered the most-challenging fight of his career with a unanimous decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic in August.

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, fight Saturday for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.

The winner of Benavidez-Morrell will be positioned for a fight with the winner.

[selij]

Clenelo still swerving Bandera Roja

[Cableaddict]

Bena-Morrell is a lovely matchup.   Can't wait.

They're both the same size, same reach, about as fast as each other, and seemingly pack the same power.  (Morell might even have the edge there.)

This is one of those fights where, the first guy that makes a big mistake loses.

 

Gotta' give Bena the favored spot, of course.   Mainly for his much deeper experience. - But also because Morell, for all his speed, never varies that speed.  For someone as elite as Bena, he'll probably be fairly easy to time.     

[WelshDevilRob]

Fantastic fight. Really rate David Morrell.