David Morrell has been awfully quiet about Benavidez

[crimsonfalcon07]

The article said that, and I believed it without verifying. I should have known better. I'm not hating on Morrell, but I firmly believe that Benavidez should not be required to fight him before he fights Alvarez.

I agree with this. But I also think if we're going on mandatory rights, Morrell is owed first crack. It will be 3 years+ of being mandatory for the WBA... IBF also hasn't been satisfied.

I really want to see the Canelo v Benavidez fight as well, but the Benavidez narratives are absurd. Just had to point out that before Canelo took his run at 168, EVERYONE had Callum Smith as #1 at 168, not Benavidez. Smith was the Ring champion, only the 3rd man to win that title at 168, along with ATG's Calzaghe and Ward. He was literally the consensus best @168, and he was Canelo's first fight at 168.

Smith defeated George Groves in the finals of the Super Series tournament. Groves was ranked #1 at the time by Ring, BoxRec, and TBRB. He also owned wins over Rocky Fielding, Hassan N'Dam, and Nieky Holzken, who was at that point acclaimed as one of the best kickboxers on the planet, and 14-0 in boxing. He then apparently turned into a bum after losing to Canelo, and Benavidez became the new bogeyman, only growing in notoriety more and more as Canelo beat the other champs and Benavidez fought the likes of Ronald Ellis and Kyrone Davis.

He's done a great job recently of building hype, but before that, wow.

[SUBZER0ED]

I agree with this. But I also think if we're going on mandatory rights, Morrell is owed first crack. It will be 3 years+ of being mandatory for the WBA... IBF also hasn't been satisfied.

I really want to see the Canelo v Benavidez fight as well, but the Benavidez narratives are absurd. Just had to point out that before Canelo took his run at 168, EVERYONE had Callum Smith as #1 at 168, not Benavidez. Smith was the Ring champion, only the 3rd man to win that title at 168, along with ATG's Calzaghe and Ward. He was literally the consensus best @168, and he was Canelo's first fight at 168.

Smith defeated George Groves in the finals of the Super Series tournament. Groves was ranked #1 at the time by Ring, BoxRec, and TBRB. He also owned wins over Rocky Fielding, Hassan N'Dam, and Nieky Holzken, who was at that point acclaimed as one of the best kickboxers on the planet, and 14-0 in boxing. He then apparently turned into a bum after losing to Canelo, and Benavidez became the new bogeyman, only growing in notoriety more and more as Canelo beat the other champs and Benavidez fought the likes of Ronald Ellis and Kyrone Davis.

He's done a great job recently of building hype, but before that, wow.

Benavidez won the WBC title way back in 2017 and has never lost it to a fighter. He's only ever beaten himself. Instead of Alvarez giving him a shot, he's made excuse after excuse, from Benavidez not deserving it to not wanting to fight Mexicans, which we know is bs. I just think DB has been through more than DM and should get first shot. But if Canelo gives Morrell a shot at all, I wouldn't protest. I'd be surprised, though.

Indeed, the Smith fight baffled me. Here was this alleged monster of the division, who basically just stood there and let a former WW pound on him like he was a human heavy bag. I don't think he became a bum after the fight. I think he was exposed as a bum during it.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Indeed, the Smith fight baffled me. Here was this alleged monster of the division, who basically just stood there and let a former WW pound on him like he was a human heavy bag. I don't think he became a bum after the fight. I think he was exposed as a bum during it.

Smith was the only one of them who made it to 12. I think Canelo had a great gameplan for that fight. Punched his bicep off. Those tacos probably had a fair bit to do with it too... Smith is a very good fighter with a lot of power, but he needs his jab to get his offense going. Canelo took that away, much as Crawford took Spence's away by unveiling that power jab.

That whole "I don't fight Mexicans" crap is such a load though. If he fights Munguía, especially without fighting the Davids and the IBF mandatory, I'm on the Canelo is a duck.

I actually think he can beat Benavidez now. But I don't think that's going to last long. Give Benavidez another few top fights, and some of those gaps in his game may close up. Also curious to see who's power and chin will hold up the best. I don't think Benavidez has fought anyone who can really crack and could potentially be as strong as him. Plant isn't a puncher, Andrade is a middleweight, and Lemieux and Dirrell are good wins but not really known for being that strong. Heck, Plant KOed Dirrell. Both Morrell and Canelo would be really good tests for Benavidez. I also think Benavidez should take out Morrell sooner rather than later. There's another one that's just going to get more dangerous with more seasoning.

Benavidez was getting hit a lot, and clean, by Andrade, and it's not like Andrade was doing anything really special to do it, just stepping to Benavidez. But he lacked the power to make Benavidez respect his offense. Canelo hasn't gotten a stoppage since Plant, so he may be slipping in that way, but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on that. Benavidez also has a bad habit of falling into punches, especially his jab. That's a really bad habit against a counter puncher, since it magnifies the power of the counter. He doesn't change lanes much either. He'll have a substantial range advantage over Canelo, so he may be able to just keep Canelo off by jabbing as Canelo brings that back foot up. But Canelo's game plan will certainly be to slip and smack him in the arms. If that takes a toll on the offense the way it did on Smith, that may make things easier for Canelo. Or, maybe it fails to work like it failed on Bivol. Lots of question marks.

He got hit clean to the body also a lot. Canelo is a better body puncher than Andrade. Will that slow his offense down? He kinda reminds me of a more skilled version of Joyce in that he depends on taking his opponent's offense on his (static) guard or just tanks shots. He's used to being the bigger guy and the bully. Not sure I've ever seen him be successful off the back foot. So it's also a game of who can push the other back. He's bigger than Canelo and clearly strong. I figure if he really can tank Canelo's offense (and Canelo couldn't even stop a 154lb guy), he's got a very good chance of taking over as Canelo gasses out over the distance. But if Canelo can bank rounds and drain him with body shots and arm shots in the first half and push him back, he may lose on a wide margin.

I kinda think Morrell may actually be a bigger test for him. Morrell can really crack. I think he's likely the hardest puncher at 168, and he's only 1 inch smaller than Benavidez and with 4 more inches of reach. That fight is going to be absolute fire whenever it happens. Whoever wins that is the future king of 168, and probably 175 also.

[SUBZER0ED]

I agreed 100%, then again what to do if canelo's doesn't defend his belts against his mandatory.

Well then, the mandatories should face each other.

[garfios]

Well then, the mandatories should face each other.

As long as he is stripped, just like they did with Crawford.

[crimsonfalcon07]

As long as he is stripped, just like they did with Crawford.

Yup, he needs to face his mandatories or get stripped. And no Munguía.

[garfios]

Yup, he needs to face his mandatories or get stripped. And no Munguía.

He hasn't face a real mandatory in three years, ryder came out of nowhere after avoiding Morell jr, with the excuse he was fighting bivol. Why no writer or commentator ask this question is beyond my understanding.

[crimsonfalcon07]

He hasn't face a real mandatory in three years, ryder came out of nowhere after avoiding Morell jr, with the excuse he was fighting bivol. Why no writer or commentator ask this question is beyond my understanding.

What's wild to me is that apparently not only Ryder, but apparently also GGG satisfied the WBO mandatory. The WBO president specifically said the GGG fight counted as a mandatory for them.

[garfios]

What's wild to me is that apparently not only Ryder, but apparently also GGG satisfied the WBO mandatory. The WBO president specifically said the GGG fight counted as a mandatory for them.

They're so corrupt, if the FBI would start an investigation for racketeering they all would go to jail.

[Elheath]

I assume you've been following the Shigeoka bros?

I didn't include them as they aren't exactly notable names yet, but yes. Granted with Estrada half retired, right now I am mostly excited about Nakatani vs Santiago for 118 that is rumored for next February. I really think he is the best Japanese boxer right now not named Naoya.

Shigeoka bros in 105, Kenshiro Teraji in 108, Ioka in 115, Nakatani (and younger Inoue) in 118, and of course Inoue in 122 and 126 maybe in a year or so. All of then quite active, certainly a good times to be a boxing fan in Japan (or a lighter weight division fan in general) right now. I'm really excited for Sunny vs Bam next week too.