David Benavidez Vs. David Morrell: Odds, Records, Prediction

After a couple of years of chasing a Canelo Alvarez fight and failing to land one, David Benavidez and David Morrell are turning toward each other instead to make what should be one of the most interesting matchups in the sport. And the winner of this fight on Saturday could be looking to something beyond a meeting with Alvarez. Here’s everything you need to know about David Benavidez vs. David Morrell including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.

While Morrell probably didn’t deserve a chance to fight Alvarez (he’s way too high risk, low reward), but it has to sting Benavidez that Alvarez still hasn’t given him a chance to fight for the undisputed super middleweight championship. Instead, Benavidez, along with Morrell, moved to the 175-pound light heavyweight limit last year and had a solid though slightly disappointing victory against former titlist Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Morrell looked equally decent but not spectacular in his light heavyweight debut in 2024, dispatching Radivoje Kalajdzic by unanimous decision. Both are looking to make their big 175-pound splash on Saturday against an opponent that they seem to strongly dislike.

“This guy is trying to act hard,” Benavidez said. “On February 1, none of this matters. I’m going to break his mouth … They all say the same nonsense before they get in the ring with me. Then they get in there, and it’s a different story.”

Countered the Cuban-born Morrell: “He didn’t respect me at our first press conference, so I’m giving it back to him. This is my time. I don’t need to show him any respect. He looks like RoboCop in there. He’s got no head movement or anything. This is really an easy fight for me.”

The winner of this bout would almost surely like a shot at Alverez, but a better opportunity might be to face the winner of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol rematch that will determine the undisputed light heavyweight championship on Feb. 22.

Benavidez and Morrell have had extraordinary performances in their career, and while Morrell appears to be more technically skilled, he’s never faced a puncher like Benavidez. Can he withstand Benavidez’s power? Can Benavidez withstand his?

“If the fight were to take place in Havana, Morrell would be the favorite,” said Jim Lampley, who will participate in the online live stream on PPV.com. “If you are in the school of thought that any southpaw fighter with talent and real power is a formidable opponent regardless of how talented and accomplished the opponent, Morrell IS the favorite. He arguably matches Benavidez in shot for shot power and has the technical advantage of fighting out of the southpaw stance.

“Both these fighters have noteworthy punching power and respectable boxing skills. Both have been in against other top 10 type talents and produced needed wins …. If there is a difference which can influence what goes on in the ring, it might well be incentive: boxers’ lives constitute a 24-hour-a-day business pursuit, and as a Mexican-American with a vast and growing fan following, [Benavidez] is on the threshold of what might become a nearly unique level of fame and earning power for the 175-pound weight class. Morrell can’t logically dream those same dreams.”

Here’s more info on the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on PPV.com for $79.99 beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

David Benavidez vs. David Morrell odds

Benavidez is a slight favorite at -230 (bet $230 to win $100), while Morrell is the +180 underdog (win $180 on a $100 wager). I don’t mind Benavidez’s money line, but I think it’s a slightly better play to grab him to win by decision at +125. If you’re going with Morrell, taking him by decision is +333.

If you were looking for a fun parlay for this weekend’s action of boxing (and this is only for entertainment purposes), I might take Benavidez to beat Morrell at -230, Stephen Fulton Jr. to beat Brandon Figueroa at +170 and Isaac Cruz to stop Angel Fierro at -110. If all of those hit, you’d win $640 on a $100 bet.

David Benavidez vs. David Morrell records

Though Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) hasn’t proven himself yet at 175 pounds, he has plenty of impressive victories at 168 pounds, beating Demetrius Andrade, Caleb Plant and David Lemieux in back-to-back-to-back fights. He also has a nice victory vs. Andre Dirrell.

His star has risen high after only 11 professional fights, but Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) hasn’t faced an opponent on the level of Benavidez. He’s beaten three undefeated fighters in his career, but his most high profile win thus far came in his last bout vs. Kalajdzic. Morrell is an elite fighter; he just hasn’t faced one yet.

David Benavidez vs. David Morrell prediction

Of the 38 predictions made by current fighters, boxing legends, trainers and other media that was put together by the PR staff running the event, 30 favored Benavidez. It’s hard to see where they’re wrong. While this could be a 50-50 fight in the first half of the contest, Benavidez’s power is eventually going to wear down Morrell. Though Morrell will survive to the final bell, Benavidez will show his dominance in the final few rounds. Say, Benavidez by decision, somewhere in the 116-112 range.