Interview Only: Confident WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavidez discusses fight against David Morrell Jr.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show – Interview with David Benavidez

Episode Title: Interview Only: Confident WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavidez discusses fight against David Morrell Jr.
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Guest: David Benavidez, Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion

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1. Introduction to David Benavidez

The episode begins with Stephen A. Smith introducing David Benavidez, highlighting his impressive boxing record of 29-0 with 24 knockouts. Stephen emphasizes Benavidez's reputation, referring to him as "one of the best in the world" and expressing admiration for his skills and determination.

Notable Quote:

"I consider you to be one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world. ... you're just that dude."
— Stephen A. Smith [01:38]

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2. Motivation and Career Aspirations

Stephen probes into Benavidez's motivation, especially given the numerous high-profile fights he deserves but hasn't yet secured. Benavidez responds by focusing on his long-term vision of becoming one of the greatest fighters of his generation. He conveys unwavering motivation, emphasizing his commitment to taking on any challenge to achieve this goal.

Notable Quote:

"I want to be one of the greatest Fighters in my generation when I retire."
— David Benavidez [02:07]

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3. Analysis of Opponent David Morell Jr.

The conversation shifts to Benavidez's upcoming fight against David Morell Jr., dubbed the "Battle of the Unbeatens." Stephen acknowledges Morell's technical skill and undefeated record, questioning the depth of his experience with only 11 fights. Benavidez defends Morell's credentials, emphasizing Morell's Cuban amateur background and technical prowess but asserts his own superiority.

Notable Quotes:

"David Morell is a good fighter. ... I think he's a good fighter, but I'm a great fighter."
— David Benavidez [02:51]

"We say this a lot in terms of guys that don't seem to really like each other. Y'all definitely come across that way."
— Stephen A. Smith [02:27]

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4. Fight Dynamics and Strategy

Stephen expresses concern over Benavidez's willingness to take punches, suggesting it may not be the wisest strategy given his defensive skills. Benavidez clarifies that he sometimes exposes himself to bait counterpunches, aiming to maximize his offensive output. He maintains that his defense is underrated and that he doesn't get hit as often as it may appear.

Notable Quotes:

"Sometimes you got to put yourself in those situations where you trying to get a counterpunch from the opponent."
— David Benavidez [05:48]

"My defense, you know, is amazing. I don't really get touched that much in my fights."
— David Benavidez [05:53]

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5. The Canelo Alvarez Factor

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the elusive fight between Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez. Stephen inquires why Alvarez has yet to accept the challenge. Benavidez bluntly states that Alvarez likely avoids fighting him because he recognizes Benavidez as the harder opponent who could potentially strip him of his titles.

Notable Quotes:

"Because he knows that I'm the hardest fight. ... he's avoiding me."
— David Benavidez [06:36]

"He has said that your constant provocations, your defiant language, etc may have played the role in the decision to avoid a match with you."
— Stephen A. Smith [06:13]

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6. Future Ambitions and Potential Fights

When discussing his place in the boxing world, Benavidez expresses confidence in becoming the number one pound-for-pound fighter after unifying all belts at 175 lbs. He also touches upon strategic fight choices, emphasizing a desire to engage in bouts that the fans are eager to see, mirroring the paths of boxing legends like Oscar De Hoya and Floyd Mayweather.

Notable Quotes:

"After this fight, this puts me in position to fight for all the belts at 175."
— David Benavidez [03:59]

"If you're the man of the people, you're the champion, you're supposed to give the fans what they want to see."
— David Benavidez [08:16]

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7. Position in Pound-for-Pound Rankings

Benavidez acknowledges Oleksandr Usyk as the current number one pound-for-pound fighter but confidently positions himself to ascend to the top once he secures all titles in his weight class.

Notable Quote:

"No, not right now, but after I win all the belts at 175, I will definitely be number one pound for pound."
— David Benavidez [08:50]

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8. Plans Post-Morell Victory

Assuming a win against Morell, Benavidez outlines his intent to become the undisputed champion at 175 lbs and hints at setting up a definitive fight, potentially against Usyk or other top contenders, to cement his legacy.

Notable Quotes:

"After we beat David Morell, we're going and we're going to become undisputed at 175."
— David Benavidez [09:25]

"That's something that we've been working, working on for a long, long time."
— David Benavidez [09:25]

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9. Concluding Remarks and Fight Predictions

As the interview wraps up, Stephen seeks Benavidez's predictions for the upcoming fight. Benavidez confidently asserts his intention to knock out David Morell, promising to leave a lasting impression.

Notable Quote:

"I'm knocking David Morrell for sure."
— David Benavidez [10:25]

Stephen concludes the episode by expressing excitement for the fight and acclaiming Benavidez's talent.

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Key Takeaways:

• David Benavidez is steadfast in his pursuit of greatness, aiming to unify all light heavyweight titles and ascend the pound-for-pound rankings.
• Upcoming Fight: Benavidez is set to face David Morell Jr. in a highly anticipated match, which he confidently expects to win by knockout.
• Canelo Alvarez Potential: Benavidez challenges Alvarez, suggesting that the latter's avoidance is due to Benavidez being the tougher opponent.
• Fighting Philosophy: Benavidez balances aggressive offense with a robust defense, strategically taking calculated risks to secure victory.
• Future Ambitions: Beyond unifying titles, Benavidez aspires to engage in high-profile fights that resonate with fans, following in the footsteps of boxing legends.

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This episode offers an in-depth look into David Benavidez's mindset, his strategic approach to boxing, and his ambitions within the sport. For fans and newcomers alike, it provides valuable insights into the career trajectory of one of boxing's rising stars.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My next guest is the interim WBC light heavyweight champion. With a record of 29 and 0 with 24 KOs, he's set to take on WBA light heavyweight champion David Morell Jr. In a match that has been dubbed the Battle of the Unbeatens. Please welcome the man affectionately known as the Mexican Monster, a man as far as I'm concerned is one of the best in the world. Deserves any big fight that's out there. I'm talking about David Benavidez himself. What's going on? Big time. How are you, man? How's everything?

[David Benavidez]

I'm doing good, brother. Just right here. Blessed. Counting down the days for next week.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Listen, man, I, I listen, I, I, I. Tell this to everybody that'll listen. Not that I'm breaking any news here. I consider you to be one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world. I don't. I think that you should be in major, major fights all the time because you're just that dude. I'm wondering how hard is it for you to get motivated for fights knowing there's so many big time fights that you deserve and there's so many people hesitant to give it to you.

[David Benavidez]

To be honest with you, it's not really that motivating. I mean, not that really hard to stay motivated. You know, at the end of the day, I want to be one of the greatest Fighters in my generation when I retire. So every fight, you know, I'm coming in with tremendous motivation. You know, there's a lot of fights out there that I feel like I deserve, but I feel like with time, we'll get every single one of those fights.

[Stephen A. Smith]

When we're looking at David Morelli, mean, I've seen that. I've seen the, you know, just the hypes. Just the hype into the fights before, you know, y'all standing face to face, promoting the fight and stuff like that. We say this a lot in terms of guys that don't seem to really like each other. Y'all definitely come across that way. Tell my audience what you know about this kid, what you think about this kid and why you decided to get in the ring with him for this fight.

[David Benavidez]

So David Morell is a good fighter. You know, he's a. He's a. He has a really big amateur background from Cuba. He's a really technical fighter, skilled fighter. A lot of fighters, you know, were ducking him. They didn't want to fight him. But for me, being who I am, I said, hey, give me the hardest fight that's on the table. And that's how we landed on David Morell. I think he's a good fighter, but I'm a great fighter, and I'm gonna just go in there and show what level I'm on on February 1st.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So what's. What's all of this noise he's been talking, talking smack to you? Do you think it's just a promotional thing, or does he seem to have some. Some healthy level of dislike make of it?

[David Benavidez]

You know, I just feel like, you know, it's two fighters that just don't like each other. You know, I don't like him. He doesn't like me. He thinks he could beat me. I know I could beat him. So, you know, it's just two fighters. You know, once it gets to the stage, you know, this. This type of thing happens, you know, I mean, two fighters that really don't like each other. I'm gonna go in there and go to war on February 1st.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Listen, the guy is skilled. There's no doubt he's got a lengthy amateur background. He is undefeated as well, but he only has 11 fights, and I'm wondering, what the hell is a deal with 11 fights? How is he worthy of being in the ring with David Benavidez? How do you answer that to the viewers?

[David Benavidez]

So the. The thing I'm most. That. That I'm after the most is his WBA belt. You know, at the end of the day, the titles are still a title for me. And after this fight, this puts me in position to fight for all the belts at 175, you know, so for him, people saying there's inexperienced, you know, that really doesn't matter to me. He was the one calling me out. He's the one that said I was ducking him. So now he. He has to pay for all the words he says.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Talking to David Benavidez right here on the Stephen A. Smith show, where do you feel you are right now in your career? I mean, I've watched you beat Caleb Plan. I've watched you beat Demetrius Andre. I thought that would be a tougher fight than. Than, Than. Than it was made out to be by you, of course. A lot easier than I thought, along with others. And now you've got this fight. How do you view yourself in boxing at this particular moment in time?

[David Benavidez]

To be honest with you, right now, I feel like I'm on the trajectory to greatness. You know, I. I've been telling everybody that I'm gonna beat these fighters, and I've been showing that off with good performances. Now after this fight, I'm fighting for all the. I'm gonna be fighting for all the undisputed belts at 175. And like I said, I just want to be great, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do by the time my career is done.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I marvel at you because, first of all, you got power in both hands, you got speed in both hands. Obviously, you're just elite. What shocks me about you is I look at you and I say, sometimes. Sometimes I get scared for you because I'm like, he just keeps coming. I mean, it's like he's inviting you to hit him. It doesn't phase him. I've never seen you hurt. And I wonder, is that the wisest strategy you think it is for you to employ? It is the sport of boxing, and you got knockout power in both hands. You've got a tremendous jab. Whenever you want to use it, you can use it and use it effectively. Why do you find yourself taking punches sometimes when it's absolutely not necessary for you to do that because you got the skills to avoid getting hit, to.

[David Benavidez]

Be honest with you, sometimes you got to put yourself in those situations where you trying to. You're trying to get a counterpunch from the opponent, you know, because like I said, I like to go in there and I like to hurt people as much as possible. So I Like to punch in between their punches. But sometimes, you know, I feel like my defense is a little bit underrated. You know, sometimes it may look like I get hit, but I don't really get hit that much. If you look at my stats, you know, my defense, you know, is amazing. I don't really get touched that much in my fights.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Gotcha. We gotta. Can't talk to you without talking about Canelo Alvarez because that's the fight we all want to see and it hasn't happened. We've been waiting for it to happen. Every time you go into the ring against somebody, you've got to win because one loss could prevent you from getting the match that we all know you want so badly. Why do you believe Canelo Alvarez refuses to fight you?

[David Benavidez]

Because he knows that I'm the hardest fight. You know, he knows that once he steps in that ring with me that all his accomplishments, all his titles, they're going to leave with me. I told you, I'm not playing with nobody. I'm the best fighter in the world. And whoever it is, if my, if it's Canelo Archer better be of the Vol. I'm beating all those guys. Those guys don't sign a chance with me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He has said that your constant provocations, your defiant language, etc may have played the role in the decision to avoid a match with you. May have played a role in his decision to avoid a match with you. You keep talking and he don't like you talk about him and that's why he's not fighting you yet. What do you make of that, man?

[David Benavidez]

That's like, you know what I mean? At the end of the day, I'm not trying to be his friend. I'm trying to. I'm trying to go in there and take all his accomplishments. At the end of the day, he knows what time it is, he knows what the hardest fight is and that's why he's avoiding me. He can say all this and that, but at the end of the day, he knows that I will be him when he gets in that ring with me. That's why he doesn't want to fight with me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

When you look at boxing today, one of the things I don't think anybody would deny about you, you give no one the impression that there is any fight whatsoever that you will avo fight anybody. Some people say that's it's good business with the Canelos of the world and others, Mayweather before him and others picking and choosing their fight because of the way the sport of boxing is run. And you got to pick your fights and make sure you can get the most money. You don't seem to be a guy that cares about any of that. Somebody talks smack and they want some, you are going to give it to them. That's the way you are. Now, if you found yourself from a popularity perspective where you ended up being in the position of a Canelo Alvarez is in right now, how would you be different in terms of the fights that you pick to have?

[David Benavidez]

You know, I always follow in the same path as my idols. You know what I mean? Oscar De Hoya, Roy Jones Jr. Floyd Mayweather. I would just look for the best fights possible. You know, the fights the fans want to see. Because at the end of the day, the fight with me and Canelo is a fight that all the fans want to see. So if you're the man of the people, you're the champion, you're supposed to give the fans what they want to see. So if I'm in the position of Canelo, then I'm taking the hardest fights. I'm making my history and I'm becoming. I'm leaving with. I'm not leaving no doubts that I'm the best fighter in the world.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Do you have yourself as the number one pound for pound fighter on the planet right now?

[David Benavidez]

No, not right now, but after I win all the belts at 175, I will definitely be number one pound for pound.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Who do you have number one right now?

[David Benavidez]

Usyk. Alexander Usyk.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay, you got him. That's a good choice. I can't deny that, especially after he just beat Fury. No doubt about that. So you get the belts at 175. What do you think that's going to do for you? Because you're moving up. I don't see anybody other than Arthur better, other than better Bev. I don't see anybody elite at the light heavyweight position outside of you. So what would be next? Assuming you win this fight with Morel.

[David Benavidez]

After this fight, the winner of this fight, which is going to be me, is going to fight the. The winner better be even before. So, you know, that's something that we've been working, working on for a long, long time. You know, I know this moment was going to get here. So after we beat David Morell, we're going and we're going to become undisputed at 175.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is it possible that doing that could get in the way of a future shot with Canelo? Because you've moved up to be a legitimate 175. And he'd like, you probably want. You want. Wouldn't want to fight at that weight. Could that be a potential excuse that gets in the way?

[David Benavidez]

To be honest with you, I feel like what we could do, we could probably do something where we fight for the 168 titles and the 175 titles. I think that would be a great, you know, that would be a great way to entice a fight with Canelo because there'd be twice as much glory for the fight. And. Yeah, man, I think, you know, I think that would be great for the history of Mexican boxing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I like. I like that idea. No doubt. Before I let you get on out of here, how you gonna win this fight? Is it going to be via knockout? What you going to do?

[David Benavidez]

Yeah, I'm gonna go in there. Like I said, I'm gonna put a beating on David Morell. He's been talking a lot, so I'm gonna break his mouth, and I'm gonna give him a reason to always remember David Benavides. So I'm gonna go in there. I'm knocking David Morrell for sure.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Got you. I'm looking forward to it. My man, David Benavidez, man. Thank you so much.

[David Benavidez]

Thank you, brother. Take care.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My thanks to the one and only David Benavidez. Be sure to catch Benavides vs. Morell Jr. Live on PBC Pay Per View on Prime Video, Saturday, February 1st. Don't miss it Big. Listen, I don't miss David Benavidez fights. I just don't miss it because the brother's that gifted. No doubt about it.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday. Keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The Name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.