David Benavidez announced on social media that his next fight will be against fellow super middleweight contender David Morrell, setting up a high-profile clash between two of the division’s top fighters.
Both Benavidez and Morrell have established themselves as top contenders in the super middleweight division, with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez regarded by some as the only fighter ranked above them due to his time spent as the undisputed champion. After mildly underwhelming distance fights in their debuts at light heavyweight, both fighters are aiming to make a stronger impression against even more difficult opposition.
Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs), the 27-year-old Phoenix native who now trains near Seattle with his family, confirmed the fight via Instagram. “There was a lot of names on the table, but I wanted to give my fans the best fight possible,” Benavidez wrote on Instagram. “I reached out to David Morrell and his team to make this happen, and we got the contract done. This fight really is going to be a banger! 2 of the best in the division and 2 titles on the line.”
Benavidez’s most recent outing was a 12-round unanimous decision win over former light heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June. That victory, on the undercard of the Gervonta Davis-Frank Martin pay-per-view, marked Benavidez’s sole appearance in 2024. Benavidez ventured north to 175 pounds after repeatedly calling out Alvarez at 168 to no avail.
A top advisor told BoxingScene that the fighter said, “I want to make my own legacy.”
Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), a 26-year-old Cuban fighter who trains under Ronnie Shields, also returned to the ring at light heavyweight in August, winning a unanimous decision over Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic. Despite he and Benavidez failing to score stoppages in their first outings at light heavyweight, their aggressive styles figure to produce a crowd-pleasing action fight.
Though a date and location for the fight are yet to be confirmed, a source close to the Benavidez team said target dates are Jan. 25 or Feb. 1 and the fight is planned as a pay-per-view main event in Las Vegas.
By Lucas Ketelle