David Benavidez and David Morrell, two unbeaten fighters who recently moved up to light-heavyweight, will face off in Las Vegas tonight. The match has got fans talking, as both men aim to prove they're still top contenders in their new weight class.
Benavidez, known as "The Mexican Monster," outpointed former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk last June. Morrell followed suit two months later, defeating Radivoje Kalajdzic. But their performances left some wondering if they'd lost a step after moving up from super-middleweight.
Tonight's fight puts a lot on the line. Benavidez's WBC Interim Title and Morrell's WBA Regular belt are up for grabs. The winner will also get first dibs on fighting the victor of the upcoming undisputed rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.
Four-weight world champion Juan Manuel Marquez shared his thoughts on the fight with The Tennessean. Marquez, who once took on Cuban fighter Joel Casamayor in Las Vegas, thinks Benavidez will come out on top.
"Benavidez's speed and the level of his past opponents are better than Morrell's. Benavidez has shown speed, power, and conditioning. These attributes will allow him to overcome Morrell."
Marquez expects Benavidez to win by decision but warns it won't be a walk in the park. He thinks the first few rounds could be tricky for "The Mexican Monster."
The undercard is also packed with action. WBC featherweight champ Brandon Figueroa will face Stephen Fulton Jr in a rematch of their thrilling 2021 bout. Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz will try to bounce back from his loss to Jose Valenzuela when he takes on Angel Fierro.
With so much talent on display, tonight's event in Las Vegas could end up being an early contender for fight of the year.
