Benavidez vs Morrell Jr: Benavidez Outclasses Morrell to Secure Big Win
LAS VEGAS – David Benavidez had been waiting. And waiting. Taking down every opponent in his path while hoping, just maybe, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez would finally step up and face him. Instead, Benavidez vs Morrell Jr became the fight that proved he didn’t need to wait any longer.
That never happened.
So, instead of sitting around any longer, Benavidez made his own moves. He moved up to light heavyweight, took on one of the most dangerous guys in the division—David Morrell Jr.—and walked away with a hard-earned unanimous decision win on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
This wasn’t just another fight. This was Benavidez proving to the world that he didn’t need Canelo to validate him. He could make his own big moments, his own legacy. And he did just that.
The Fight Benavidez Had to Make
For years, Benavidez had been labeled as the “boogeyman” of the super middleweight division. Fighters avoided him. Promoters didn’t want their guys stepping into the ring with him. His relentless pressure, knockout power, and confidence made him too much of a risk.
At the same time, Morrell was building a similar reputation at 175 pounds. Originally from Cuba but now based in Minneapolis, Morrell had the kind of old-school Cuban technical skills combined with explosive punching power that made him a real threat. Many believed that outside of Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, Morrell was the only guy who had a legitimate shot at stopping Benavidez.
Turns out, he didn’t.
Benavidez Takes Control Early
From the opening bell, Benavidez made it clear he was in charge.
According to CompuBox stats, he outlanded Morrell in every round except one before the 11th. He landed more power shots in every round, mixing aggression with smart movement. Even though two judges had the fight closer at 115-111, the third judge scored it 118-108, which was a more accurate reflection of how dominant Benavidez really was.
The crowd inside T-Mobile Arena ate it up. From the start, the energy was electric.
Benavidez went to the body early, hammering away with shots designed to wear Morrell down. Meanwhile, Morrell did his best to stay loose, clowning around, smiling, talking to people at ringside, and even throwing in an Ali shuffle at one point.
The fans were split, too. In the second round, a loud “Mexico! Mexico!” chant filled the arena. Morrell responded by finishing the round strong with a quick flurry of punches. In the third, it was the Cuban fans’ turn—“Cuba! Cuba!”—but just as they got going, Benavidez shut them down by unloading a series of power punches that had Morrell backing up against the ropes.
The Middle Rounds: A One-Sided Battle
By the fifth round, Benavidez had complete control. He ripped a powerful right hand through Morrell’s defense, and though Morrell took it well, the playful grin on his face was gone. He knew this was real.
In the sixth, Benavidez landed a brutal left uppercut followed by a clean right cross. A couple of rounds later, he nearly took Morrell’s head off with a left hook-uppercut combination.
But Morrell wasn’t ready to go down just yet.
In the eighth round, he put together his best moments of the fight, landing solid combinations and even catching Benavidez with a clean uppercut. For a second, it looked like he might be able to turn things around.
Then reality hit—literally.
As soon as Morrell started to build momentum, Benavidez shut it down again, drilling him with a straight right hand that briefly wobbled him. It was clear—every time Morrell made progress, Benavidez was one step ahead.
By the ninth round, Benavidez was really starting to pile on the damage. He mixed in vicious body shots with three crushing uppercuts—two from his right hand, one from his left. You could see it in Morrell’s body language: the fight was slipping away.
Source: David Benavidez makes his own way in win over David Morrell Jnr
Morrell’s Last Stand
By round 10, Morrell was completely drained. His mouth was hanging open, his legs weren’t as springy, and he looked like he was running on empty.
Sensing this, Benavidez slowed down for a moment, took a breather, and then went right back to work. In the final moments of the round, he even threw in his own version of an Ali shuffle, getting the crowd hyped again before landing a stiff jab and right hand to close the round.
Then, out of nowhere, the fight took a wild turn.
At the start of the 11th round, Morrell—who looked completely out of it just a minute earlier—suddenly came alive. Out of an awkward stance, he threw a desperate right hand that caught Benavidez off guard. The punch sent Benavidez stumbling to the side, and while he never actually fell, his gloves touched the canvas.
The referee ruled it a knockdown.
Just like that, a fight that seemed like a sure thing for Benavidez now had a little bit of drama.
Benavidez quickly recovered, but Morrell kept pressing forward, trying to take advantage of the moment. The round ended with Morrell backed into a corner, absorbing punches but still fighting back.
As the bell rang, Benavidez threw a few extra punches—maybe one or two too many. Morrell, acting on instinct, fired back with a right hand that landed square on Benavidez’s cheek. The referee, Thomas Taylor, immediately took a point away from Morrell, a questionable call that ultimately didn’t change anything.

The Final Round
The 12th round was pure heart.
Both fighters were exhausted. Morrell had a swollen eye, Benavidez had blood on his lips, but neither one backed down.
They traded punches in one of the busiest rounds of the fight, but Benavidez had more in the tank. He landed the sharper shots, including two powerful uppercuts that sealed the deal.
When the final bell rang, everyone in the arena knew who had won.
A Statement Victory
The official decision was no surprise—Benavidez had done more than enough. He had outworked, outpunched, and outclassed Morrell, proving once again why he’s one of the most dangerous fighters in the world.
But this win was about more than just numbers on a scorecard.
It was about Benavidez taking control of his own career. He didn’t wait around for Canelo or anyone else. He stepped up, took on one of the toughest guys in the division, and delivered.
Now, the question isn’t “Will Canelo fight Benavidez?” It’s “Who’s next for Benavidez?” Because at this point, he doesn’t need to chase anyone.
They need to chase him.
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