As far as non-title fights go, David Benavidez’s showdown with David Morrell is sure to be the most hotly anticipated clash outside of the heavyweight division during 2025. Now, after the proposed bout sat atop the wish lists of fans around the globe, a formally announcement has been made to confirm the fight date and main card for the meeting of the unbeaten light-heavyweight title hopefuls.
Each of Benavidez and Morrell had been campaigning in the super-middleweight division at the beginning of the calendar, both in hot pursuit of a lucrative title shot against then undisputed 168lb king Canelo Alvarez.
However, as the months passed, it became clear that Alvarez had little intention of facing either man without a mammoth financial incentive.
As a result, both Benavidez and Morrell made the move up to the light-heavyweight division and made their debuts in June and August, outpointing Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Radivoje Kalajdzic respectively in contests that were not expected to go the distance prior.
Nevertheless, both men are still regarded as the standout threats to the 175lb poster boys, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, and their encounter will likely determine who gets a shot at the unified light-heavyweight titles – with the WBC Interim and WBA (Regular) straps, and thus positions as mandatory challengers, being up for grabs.
It has now been made official that Benavidez (29-0) and Morrell (11-0) will collide on February 1st at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and top a card that will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video PPV.
Amazing card to kick off 2025 ! Congratulations @premierboxing@TGBpromotions#BenavidezMorrell live at @TMobileArena on @PrimeVideo PPV @Benavidez300pic.twitter.com/3fZOUTQZvm
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) November 19, 2024
As for the undercard, Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1) and Stephen Fulton (22-1) will take part in a salivating rematch for the WBC featherweight title, over three years since Fulton handed Figueroa a first career defeat in a super-bantamweight unification bout.
Meanwhile, Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (26-3-1) will hope to bounce back from defeat after losing his super-lightweight title to Jose Valenzuela. Cruz will go toe-to-toe with Angel Fierro (22-2-2) in an intriguing all-Mexican shootout – a battle between two hard-hitting 140lbers that have never been knocked out.
Finally, Jesus Alejandro Ramos Jr. (21-1) is attempting to re-establish himself as a title threat in a packed-out super-welterweight division, taking on former IBF champion Jeison Rosario (24-4-2), who impressed in a draw with Jarrett Hurd back in August.
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