DAVID Benavidez conclusively shut down his grudge match with David Morrell, winning a unanimous decision after 12 rounds of thrilling light-heavyweight action at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.
The judges handed in scores of 115-111 (twice) and 118-108, confirming the ‘Mexican Monster’ as the winner. He walked away with the WBA 175-pound belt alongside his WBC Interim strap.
Refusing to touch gloves at the start, Benavidez planted his feet in round one, looking to employ a stiff jab. A fast start from a man used to cranking up the engine steadily.
Benavidez whipped to the torso in round two as Morrell showed his edge in hand speed. “Go to the body,” implored Morrell’s trainer Ronnie Shields.
Chants of “Cuba, Cuba” rang around the arena as the pair bit hard on their gumshields and went to war in the third. Benavidez waved Morrell in after a flurry.
Benavidez brought out the uppercut in round four but got briefly buzzed by a Morrell right hook off the ropes. The Cuban was more dangerous when throwing with Benavidez rather than shelling up and taking turns.
Still trying to follow Morrell at the close of every round, ‘El Bandera Rojas’s’ whipping uppercuts frequently landed in the sixth as Morrell allowed himself to be dominated for large spells of the round.
Benavidez returned to the body in round eight. Morrell was fighting like a man with the distance in the back of his mind. “You got to suck it up champ. You got to work!” said Shields in the corner.
Referee Thomas Taylor had a few choice words for Morrell’s increasing indiscretions in the ninth. Of more concern to the Minnesota-based puncher was Benavidez’s left hand, raking home to head and body. An early cut on the Benavidez left eye was not a factor.
Round 11 exploded to life as Morrell forced a knockdown, catching Benavidez off balance with a swiping shot. That advantage was swiftly erased seconds later when Morrell landed a right hook after the bell. Referee Taylor cleared the ring and deducted a point from the Cuban southpaw to even up the round.
Morrell, 11-1 (9 KOs), displayed significant facial damage in the final round, yet continued pitching. His energy levels had increased across the final two sessions, but Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), had the fight in the bag by this point.
“I prepared for everything, I knew he was a great fighter,” said the winner.
“To be honest, I thought he was gonna hit harder, but he didn’t. He was easier to hit than I expected, so every opportunity I saw, I took it.”
David Morrell said: “I feel good, for me everything is good. The boxing is done. I’m not done, hell no.”
