Trainer Stephen Edwards believes that while David Morrell has power, his ring IQ may not be enough to secure a victory against WBC interim light heavyweight champion David Benavidez when they meet on February 1st.
Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs), the WBA ‘regular’ 175-pound champion, has relied heavily on his physical attributes—his explosive power and size—in his career thus far. However, Stephen Edwards feels that Morrell’s reliance on force alone could be a disadvantage against a fighter like Benavidez, who possesses a more refined and versatile skill set.
Edwards, who previously trained Caleb Plant for his bout against Benavidez, noted that Morrell’s performance against Radivoje Kalajdzic in his 175-pound debut highlighted some of the challenges he faces. While Morrell dominated the fight and never appeared at risk of losing, he did take some big shots from Kalajdzic, a puncher with greater power than Benavidez. Edwards believes Morrell’s lack of defensive adjustments and reliance on his size and strength could be a problem against a more technically sound opponent.
“I’m very impressed with David Morrell, but he kind of relies on his forcefulness, his strength, and his size,” Edwards said. “He’s way too big to be fighting at 168. He’s a big guy. But a lot of the guys he fought were smaller, so he didn’t have to rely on his IQ or make adjustments. I haven’t seen that from him yet.”
The fight between Morrell and Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) will headline a PBC on Prime Video PPV event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. For Benavidez, this marks the first time in his career that he will face a genuinely competitive opponent with a real chance of defeating him.
Edwards, however, believes that Benavidez’s underrated ring IQ, defense, and ability to counterpunch could give him the edge. He recalled his experience in Benavidez’s victory over Plant, noting how Benavidez impressed him with his composure and skill. Despite being a target for punches, Benavidez displayed excellent defense, using his gloves to deflect incoming shots and maintaining a strong defensive posture.
“I think people underrate Benavidez’s IQ and defense. They claim he’s easy to hit, but when he fights the way he does, he’s bound to take some hits,” Edwards said. “Even when opponents hit him, he keeps his hands up, forcing the punches to go through his gloves. He deflects a lot of power.”
Although Edwards believes Morrell has the potential to win the fight, he remains uncertain about the Cuban’s ability to adjust under pressure. “I’m going to pick Benavidez,” Edwards concluded. “I think his IQ is a big factor in this fight, and I haven’t seen enough from Morrell to convince me he can handle the mental pressure Benavidez will bring.”
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