Lonnie Thompson is leaning in direction of David Benavidez defeating David Morrell of their struggle in 30 days on February 1st on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas. Thompson sparred with Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and was impressed together with his engine and the way he attacked his physique.
Lonnie B thinks WBC interim gentle heavyweight champion Benavidez will break WBA ‘common’ champ Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) with strain and knock him out in some unspecified time in the future within the struggle.
Underestimating Morrell
He sees Benavidez as a KO puncher for some cause, however he’s clearly not, particularly at 175, the place he’s lastly going through guys his personal dimension after years of campaigning towards smaller fighters at 168. Morrell is an actual knockout artist, and if there’s going to be a KO on this struggle, it’ll be him who does it.
“I obtained David Benavidez. David Morrell is actual slick, however he’s obtained the form of model the place you bought to place strain on him. In the event you put strain on him and go to his physique, you’ll get him. David [Benavidez] makes a speciality of that,” stated Lonnie Thompson to Professional Boxing Followers, guessing that Benavidez will defeat Morrell.
Contemplating that Morrell hasn’t been overwhelmed, Thompson’s remark about easy methods to beat him is predicated on guesswork moderately than one he’s seen earlier than. Nobody has overwhelmed Morrell within the professional ranks or come near it.
“He’s [Benavidez] obtained to watch out with the slick counters as a result of David Morrell does have slightly pop, and he does have slick counters. I believe with the best way David fights, he’s going to present David Morrell issues as a result of he’s not going to let him be slick, doing all of the slick stuff that he does together with his ft,” stated Thompson.
Morrell has greater than a “little pop.” He’s arguably the largest puncher within the gentle heavyweight division. So, for Lonnie to be saying that Morrell solely has a “little” energy, it means that he hasn’t correctly watched him struggle and has no concept what he’s speaking about. He’s clearly extra conversant in Benavidez than he’s with Morrell, which is comprehensible as a result of he has been a professional for 12 years since 2013 and has a variety of miles on the odometer.
“He’s going to must hold working and dealing. There’s going to return a time the place he’s going to must struggle David as a result of David [Benvidez] is sweet at coming and letting his fingers go,” stated Lonnie B. “So, if David Morrell can catch him in between and harm him, that’s the one likelihood I give him to win.”
Nah, Thompson is fallacious. Morrell has extra of an opportunity of profitable this struggle than by knocking out Benavidez. He can beat him by determination by outboxing or out-punching him. His boxing abilities are superior to Benavidez’s as a result of his lengthy beginner profession, preventing the highest fighters in Cuba and on the world stage.
Benavidez didn’t have that. He turned professional moderately than going the beginner route and has all the time been a pure slugger, principally as a result of him preventing in a weight class under his huge gentle heavyweight body at tremendous middleweight.
“David Benavidez confirmed me loads. After his final struggle [Oleksandr Gvozdyk], no, he’s for actual,” stated Thompson about Benavidez’s final struggle towards 37-year-old former WBC gentle heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June fifteenth.
“I don’t assume he’s going to have a variety of knockouts, however that child hit him with some photographs. That child, Oleksandr [Gvozdyk], hit him with some photographs, and he can punch. He [Benavidez] took them effectively and got here again and was letting his fingers go,” stated Lonnie B.
It feels like Lonnie didn’t watch the Benavidez-Gvozdyk struggle. Benavidez didn’t “come again.” He gassed out and took a beating in all the second half of the struggle and was getting the tar overwhelmed out of him by Gvozdyk in rounds 9 by means of 12. He was getting hit with photographs that will knock a gap by means of a wall.
Yeah, Benavidez took the punches, however he didn’t come again. He was a punching bag within the final 4 rounds. Lonnie B may need seen spotlight clips on YouTube that favored Benavidez, however that’s not how the struggle performed out in rounds six by means of twelve. David appeared exhausted and weak, getting pummeled by the stronger Gvozdyk.
Thompson’s Prediction
“David Morrell hasn’t been examined like that, although. I’m leaning extra towards David Benavidez as a result of I sparred with him,” stated Thompson. “He punches very well to the physique. Simply from my statement, I don’t assume David Morrell goes to have the ability to take that over 12 rounds.”
It will be a mistake for Benavidez to attempt to go to Morrell’s physique as a result of he’ll go away his head open for energy photographs. He might find yourself getting knocked out like Sena Agbeko and Yamaguchi Falcão. These guys tried to assault Morrell’s physique and have been rapidly knocked out. Benavidez will likely be a sitting duck if he lowers his fingers to focus on Morrell’s midsection.
“Yeah, however I may very well be fallacious however I believe David Benavidez goes to cease him,” stated Lonnie B. “David has obtained a kind of kinds. While you have a look at him, you’re like, ‘Okay,’ however whenever you get in there with him, it’s loads more durable than I believed.”
Benavidez shouldn’t be a knockout puncher, and undoubtedly not at 175. The fellows he knocked out at 168 have been small and outdated, like Demetrius Andrade, Roamer Alexis Angulo, David Lemieux, and Anthony Dirrell. All of these guys have been smaller than Benavidez and 35-ish.
“I believed he’d be there for this shot, however he’s not. His fingers are up, he takes a great punch, and he comes again. His work charge is excessive. You’ve obtained to be in tip-top place to maintain up with him. It’s going to be a great struggle, however I’m leaning extra towards David Benavidez,” stated Lonnie B.
Benavidez may have issues utilizing his quantity punching towards Morrell as a result of he strikes and chooses when he needs to interact together with his opponent. His gradual ft will make it exhausting for him to get to Morrell and land his quantity. Sadly, he strikes like Frankenstein’s monster and may solely land his photographs towards stationary fighters.
