Boxing

David Benavidez vs David Morrell Jr.: Keys to victory for both fighters

DAZN

Flash Sale: Save 30% on Annual DAZN Plans now

Any time it is a unifying world championship fight, stakes are high.

That especially bodes true for when the fighters are both undefeated.

On Saturday night, WBC light heavyweight world champ David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and WBA "Regular" light heavyweight titleholder David Morrell Jr. (11-0, 9 KOs) clash at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

With plenty on the line, DAZN News lists the keys to victory for both fighters.

SALE: Get 30% off a DAZN annual subscription right now - just £83.99 / $157.50 for 12 months

David Benavidez’s keys to victory

Split Morrell’s guard with the left-handed jab early

David Morrell keeps a high, tight, and disciplined guard.

If Benavidez can split it with a left-handed jab early, it will go ways toward him opening up the lane to piece together combinations.

Not to mention, the jab would serve as a demoralizing weapon if Benavidez can land it at will.

David Benavidez David Becker/Getty Images

Turn the volume up with punching pressure

Benavidez is known for driving his punch output up en route to breaking down and overwhelming opponents.

Against Morrell shouldn’t be any different. He’s got to break the Cuban down with constant punching pressure — something that’s integral to Benavidez’s fight game.

Stay in front of Morrell, but at a healthy distance

Benavidez forward fighting and pounding Morrell with an incessant flow of blunt trauma could very well be enough to get his hand raised in victory.

But it would be wise for 'El Monstro' to do this while maintaining a healthy distance because Morrell does possess one-punch knockout power that Benavidez must be cautious about coming from the counterpunch end.

For Benavidez, fighting his fight and leaning on his experience edge could very well prove enough, but he’s got to exercise caution.

David Morrell Jr.’s keys to victory

Level change, keep Benavidez guessing

Watch Morrell carefully and you will see how he goes from throwing the jab from the high, tight guard to getting low and exploding up with level changes in a technically-sound way.

Morrell’s ability to do this smoothly can only aid his chances.

Read next | Benavidez vs Morrell - Leading names from the boxing industry including make their prediction

Counter early

If Morrell can disrupt Benavidez’s automatic punching cadence with precise, impactful counterpunching, it can make judges think twice about awarding rounds to 'El Monstro'.

Plus, those counterpunches could give Morrell real-time intel on how to catch Benavidez cleanly with something devastating.

Catch Benavidez off guard

What Morrell lacks in experience — 11 pro fights to Benavidez’s 29 fights — he makes up for in power.

If Morrell can time that perfect punch, especially on the counterpunch end, and detonate it squarely on Benavidez, the Cuban has a legit shot of leaving Las Vegas with two light heavyweight titles in tow.

SALE: 30% off a DAZN subscription now

DAZN's Flash Sale means it is now even cheaper to watch the best fights from boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA, PFL and crossover boxing.

Sign up to a DAZN annual membership to watch over 150 fights a year for just £83.99 in the UK / $157.50 in the US. Click here for prices in your country.

Be quick, this offer ends on February 2.

Buy now for 30% discounted subscription to get a ringside seat to the biggest fights in 2025.

For more information and to sign up, click here.

Error code: %{errorCode}