David Benavidez and David Morrell are set to face off in a high-stakes light-heavyweight bout on February 1 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight's build-up has been far from smooth, with the fighters coming to blows at a recent media workout.
The tension between the two escalated when Benavidez raised concerns about the lack of VADA testing for the fight. He took a strong stance on the issue, threatening to cancel the bout if proper testing wasn't implemented.
"I had to call PBC and tell them if we don't take the VADA test, we're going to cancel the whole fight, because you guys didn't want to test," Benavidez said in an interview.
Morrell's camp hit back immediately, leading to a physical altercation. Benavidez shoved Morrell, who responded by throwing his belt at his opponent.
Known as "The Mexican Monster," Benavidez boasts an impressive 29-0 record with 24 knockouts. He currently holds the WBC interim light-heavyweight title, which he defended in June with a victory over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Morrell, on the other hand, sports an 11-0 record and holds the WBA regular light-heavyweight title. He claimed the vacant strap in August after defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic.
The WBC has announced that this fight will serve as a final eliminator for the mandatory challenger position. The winner could potentially face the victor of the undisputed light-heavyweight championship rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, scheduled for February.
Despite the pre-fight drama, both fighters are expected to bring their A-game to the ring. The clash between these undefeated champions promises to be a thrilling encounter for boxing fans.
