David Benavidez was knocked down for the second time in his profession, however defeated David Morrell in a dramatic all-action affair.
Benavidez headlined an enormous invoice on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas in opposition to fellow undefeated light-heavyweight Morrell.
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‘The Mexican Monster’ is likely one of the most feared fighters within the sport, and was trying to arrange an undisputed title conflict with the winner of Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol, which takes place on February 22.
He got here into the competition in a real check of his credentials in his second battle on the weight after transferring up from the super-middleweight division.
Benavidez was knocked down within the eleventh touching the canvas, as issues took a dramatic late flip.
However fortuitously after his rival was instantly deducted the purpose for a late punch, he picked up the choice win.
The scorecards learn 115-111, 115-111 and 118-108 and Benavidez earned his stripes as a number one contender for the belts.
He’s now 30 fights with out defeat in his skilled profession, and will face the most important outing of his profession subsequent.
The battle started with actual anticipation and buzz round Sin Metropolis, with Benavidez the primary to open up within the fast-paced first stanza, touchdown some ferocious physique work early on.
Morrell responded with some highly effective photographs of his personal, and it was clear from the opening bell that each fighters carried dynamite of their fingers.
A raucous crowd roared Benavidez on as he continued to set the tone, however counter work from Morrell continued to come back again his approach within the second as an actual actuality test.
It shortly grew to become a brutal struggle within the third spherical because the pair threw leather-based, however confirmed elite ranges of defence, with damaging energy punches loading up from each fighters.
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Benavidez launched a brand new onslaught within the fourth spherical, with the showdown actually catching hearth, however he was wobbled by his rival and compelled to battle again off the ropes in a dramatic interval.
It was a barnstorming struggle of attrition growing because the midway level approached, and Benavidez was this time the one to wobble Morrell with a thunderous uppercut, however the adversity was overcome.
The physique work continued to be a weapon of selection for Benavidez, who sought to proceed to regulate the battle, however Morrell refused to wilt and tried to get himself going.
However issues took a dramatic flip as Benavidez was despatched to the canvas within the penultimate spherical with a neat counter, because the referee dominated it a knockdown.
Though Morrell confronted prompt catastrophe as he hit Benavidez after the bell, which noticed some extent instantly deducted from Morrell, making his progress short-lived.
Benavidez is now the WBC obligatory challenger for the winner of the undisputed sequel, which guarantees to additionally as soon as once more be a basic later this month.
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Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh intends to play the center man and make the battle for later in 2025, though it’s unclear the place it’ll land.
Benavidez will fancy his possibilities given his measurement, however could possibly be met by two distinctive and completely different kinds depending on the victor.
He mentioned on the prospect of combating the winner: “I really feel like I’d beat each of them.
“I do know Bivol very well. I’ve sparred him lots. I’ve plenty of respect for him.
“Simply because I’ve sparred him, [I’m] not saying he’s a simple fighter or none of that.
“I do know what I can do with him. I need to battle the most effective. These are the challenges I would like.
“I’ve had plenty of expertise, so now, it’s simply time to essentially push myself and go for greatness in order that’s precisely what I’m doing.”
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