Benavidez dominated on the scorecards as he claimed the victory with scores of 15-111, 115-111 and 118-108 to extend his perfect record to 30-0 while handing Morrell the first loss of his career.
And after his victory, Benavidez said that he’s ready to continue chasing the biggest names in the sport.
“I’m excited to keep putting on great fights, filling arenas, calling out the best guys,” Benavidez told reporters at the post-fight press conference.
“I’ve evolved as a fighter. I’m becoming my own character.
“I’ll be the face of boxing soon, talking over the sport.”
.@benavidez300 punches hurt more when you watch in slow-motion. #BenavidezMorrell pic.twitter.com/hTJhaTXYGA
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) February 2, 2025
Benavidez’s dominant win was only slightly endangered by an 11th-round knockdown that saw a strong Morrell right hand catch Benavidez off balance, forcing him to touch down. But Benavidez never looked in any serious trouble as he negotiated the final moments of the fight with relative ease.
And, after an at-times heated build-up to the bout, Benavidez admitted that the animosity he felt towards Morrell leading into the contest had subsided by the end of the fight.
“I told David Morrell that he earned my respect after the fight,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we talk a lot of s**t and do this and that. It’s not fake. I did want to knock him out. I did want to break his face.
“But after you go 12 rounds hitting somebody for so long, the anger kind of goes away from a fighter, you know?”
Instant. Classic. 😤🥊 #BenavidezMorrell pic.twitter.com/BOWuYiTzDu
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) February 2, 2025
Benavidez’s win handed Morrell his first professional defeat, and Benavidez said that he thinks he now deserves to be included in boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings.
“I think this puts me in the pound-for-pound list. Probably number nine, 10, six,” he said.
“I feel like when you’re in the pound-for-pound list you’re a multiple champion. I mean, I guess I am a multiple champion!
“I’m happy I finally cracked that list. It’s been something I’ve been trying to get on for a long, long time. That just shows my progression and my evolution of me being a fighter. So I’m excited to one day be number one.”
Many are tipping Benavidez to face the winner of the upcoming undisputed title rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, and Benavidez said he’s now in prime position to take up that challenge next. But first, he wants to rest and recharge his batteries before launching into fight camp for his next test.
“This puts us in the number-one spot, so I guess (the Beterbiev-Bivol winner is) what’s next,” he said.
“But right now I just want to take a break. I’m f*****g tired!”
