“Nothing to Gain, Everything to Lose”: Benavidez Sr. In the Morrell Challenge

Jose Benavidez Sr. says his son, ‘Mexican Monster,’ David Benavidez, has “nothing to gain” and “everything to lose” in his fight with ‘regular’ WBA light heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1.

The “Nothing to Gain” argument.

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) is better known and has more experience against Cuban Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs). Fans unfamiliar with Morrell, 26, won’t give Benavidez credit for beating him. If he loses to him, it will be a disaster, ruining his hopes for fights against Artur Beterbiev, Dmitry Bivol, and Canelo Alvarez.

You wonder why Benavidez bothered to take this fight against Morrell with so many losses. Jose Sr. he says they accepted this challenge because they want to show the fans that they are the best at 175, just as they appear to be 168 years old.

Networks and fans were interested in the Benavidez-Morrell fight, and they should have taken this dangerous match because the alternathis was very difficult against Joshua Buatsi.

“Team Benavidez’s program, ‘Mexican Monster,’ is making history and becoming the best in the division. We are here to give the fans what they want to see,” said Jose Benavidez Sr. on YSM Sports Media.

Yes, we want big fights: Canelo fight, Beterbiev fight, Bivol fight, and Zurdo Ramirez fight. I believe that we should continue to show and give the fans what they want to see.

“We must continue to work. We want to be known as fighters who have never misled anyone or run away from anyone. We are here to present the fights that fans want to see. I believe that this is a tough fight that the fans want to see,” said Benavidez Sr.

Jose Sr. he says they never “mislead” anyone, but fans believe Benavidez misled Morrell for two solid years, fighting less dangerous guys, some of them veteran fighters. Benavidez said he would rather fight Demetrius Andrade and Caleb Plant than face Morrell. Andrade is not popular. And it doesn’t explain why Benavidez fought David Lemieux, Ronald Ellis, and Kyrone Davis.

“We are fighting a young, strong, left-handed Cuban player and two-time world champion,” said Jose Sr. “It’s not an easy fight, but I believe in my heart and what I see in David. [Benavidez] training; I think it’s on another level.

“So, we are here to give you a good fight and look very good so that you can continue to fight for ranking so that one day you can be the best and make history. That’s the plan. All these battles are difficult, but as I said. We want to make history.”

If it works for Benavidez, he will defeat Morrell and defeat the winner of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol again. That would make him the undisputed champion at 175, and he could potentially set up a rematch with whoever beats him for four belts. Canelo may be interested in moving up to light heavyweight to challenge Benavidez for his title because his popularity would be high.

“We want to show people why we are called the best in 168. and 175, because we keep taking these dangerous battles Like this war. What can we gain from this war?” said Benavidez Sr. about the Morrell conflict in 32 days. “We have everything to lose and nothing to gain.”

Dealing with Critics

Jose Sr. he is wrong to think that fighting Morrell will not benefit him. This fight will increase Benavidez’s popularity, and the fans will praise him.

“If we win this fight, I guarantee you people will say, ‘Oh, we knew David Morrell wasn’t ready.’ We must continue to examine ourselves. We have to give the fans what they want to make history and keep learning,” said Benavidez Sr.