What a way to start 2025! One of boxing’s most exciting fighters of the moment, undefeated interim WBC light heavyweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs), takes on WBA light heavyweight champion David Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9 KOs) in an event that is sure to have fight fans buzzing all year long.
It’s been a long wait for this particular fight, but fans will finally get to see how these two titans square up. While Morrell has incredible power, Benavidez has speed and endurance to spare. And while Benavidez is the more experienced professional fighter, having had 18 more fights, other tales of the tape hint at how close this matchup might be:
• Benavidez has an 83% knockout percentage; Morrell’s is 82%;
• While Benavidez has an 1-inch height advantage over Morrell, Morell has a 2-inch reach advantage;
• The fighters are only separated in age by two years; Benavidez is 28, Morrell is 26;
• Benavidez fights out of the orthodox stance, while David Morrell is a southpaw;
• Benavidez is ranked No. 2 by The Ring at lightheavyweight, while Morrell is ranked No. 28 in the 175-pound division.
The undercards for this fight promise plenty of action, highlighted by the long-awaited rematch between WBC featherweight world champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa defending his title against former unified world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. (The last time they fought was 2021.) Mexican fighters Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, a former world champion, faces off against contender Angel Fierro in a super lightweight duel. And Mexican star Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. will fight former unified champion Jeison Rosario in a 10-round middleweight bout.
The buildup to the Feb. 1 bout between Benavidez and Morrell has been marked by plenty of trash talk, with Morrell mocking what he feels is Benavidez’s robotic movement (calling him “RoboCop”), and Benavidez appearing to take it extremely personally, promising plenty of physical punishment for his opponent. And a Miami press conference reached a fever pitch between the two men. To say both men seem laser-focused on the task at hand is understating the case considerably. Are you ready?
T-Mobile Arena, 1 p.m. Feb. 1, starting at $105 plus tax and fee. axs.com
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