Benavidez Vs. Morrell: “We’ll find out the character of both men on February 1,” Coach insisted.

By Joseph Herron: The much-anticipated bout of boxing’s next superstar, titled “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell,” will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 1, 2025. The main event pits two undefeated fighters, David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and David Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9 KOs), facing a conflict that has sparked a heated war of words between the camps.

Adding to the growing anticipation, legendary boxing trainer James Gogue, who has five decades of experience in the sport, recently weighed in on the WAW BOXING podcast. While Benavidez is currently the betting favorite (-180) at most sportsbooks, Gogue believes the Phoenix native faces a serious challenge.

“David Morrell Jr. he is an amazingly talented warrior,” Gogue commented. “You could see his natural talent from the time he made his pro debut five years ago. He is an explosive two-handed puncher, with exceptional hand and foot speed, quick reflexes, and good hand-eye coordination. His ability to seamlessly switch between orthodox and southpaw stances makes him a threat in any situation. In addition, his timing, distance understanding, and versatility—whether fighting from mid-range, long range, or close quarters—make him the complete package.”

Team Benavidez has been critical of Morrell’s relatively short career, saying his lack of experience could be a disadvantage. However, Gogue counters this skepticism with several compelling arguments.

“Yes, Morrell only has 11 fights on his record, but he has a deep pedigree,” explained Gogue. “He’s faced every trend imaginable in scholarship. Add that to his natural athleticism and the guidance of Ronnie Shields, one of the most experienced trainers in boxing, and he doesn’t need 40 fights to take on the best in the division.”

Ronnie Shields, Morrell’s Hall of Fame trainer, echoed this sentiment during his podcast, “Real Boxing with Ronnie Shields.”

“David Morrell Jr. he is the most gifted boxer today,” Shields asserted. “He’s ready to submit to David Benavidez on February 1st. The real question fans should be asking is whether fights like Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol, and Artur Beterbiev are good for Morrell.”

While Morrell’s skills and abilities are widely appreciated, Gogue highlighted a critical topic not known in this career-defining play.

“There’s a lot to like about Morrell and his future, but we haven’t seen him in a serious fight,” Gogue commented. “We don’t know how he will cope or how strong his chin is. There is an old saying in boxing: don’t go up if you see they can punch each other. We will probably get that answer on February 1 when he faces someone like Benavidez, who has knocked out 24 opponents in only 29 fights.”

The stakes could not be higher as the boxing world awaits the outcome of “The Coronation of King David: Benavidez vs. Morrell.” This epic clash will not only determine the next dominant force in the Light Heavyweight division but will also introduce the next boxing star to the American market. Tune in Saturday, February 1, for this PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video, beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.