Comments Thread For: Midweek Mailbag: Thoughts on David Benavidez-David Morrell Jr. and more

[BoxingUpdates]

We tackle your thoughts on a fight that has just been announced (David Benavidez-David Morrell), one that's being imagined (Nick Ball-Naoya Inoue), one that has been ordered (Janibek Alimkhanuly-Hamzah Sheeraz) and one that should have happened (Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua).
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[famicommander]

Inoue's power may be maxing out?

At 122:
he stopped Stephen Fulton in 8 rounds and took his two belts (previously undefeated)
he stopped Marlon Tapales in 10 rounds and took his two belts
he stopped Luis Nery in 6 rounds
he stopped TJ Doheny in 7 rounds (had never previously been stopped)

All but Doheny were TBRB ranked (Doheny fell out of the top 10 the week before the fight), all four were Ring ranked, two were reigning unified champions, two were former world titlists and he stopped all four of them.

The last time anyone took him the distance was five years ago in the World Boxing Super Series Final against Nonito Donaire, and he had Donaire hurt badly late in that fight as well.

[Echo Falls]

I feel for Ronny Rios. I think I’d also be inactive if I had 3 ears.

[Poopdick]

Sheeran beats Janibek. Fury vs Joshua should happen. boxing is for entertainment. match these guys. everyone talks about losses shouldn't matter as long as these guys fight, then they lose 1(Fury) or a few (Joshua) and ppl say they aren't even interested in watching them fight lol. all the crap matches in this sport and this is one the "experts" just can't bare to watch lol

[crimsonfalcon07]

Benavidez especially was made to wait? C'mon Greisman (using just last names so we can all keep the Davids straight). Benavidez lost his real belt twice, once up his nose and once on the scales, and didn't earn his interim belt until May 21, 2022. Morrell won his WBA interim belt August 8, 2020, before Canelo had his first fight in the division, and was upgraded to WBA regular champ in January 2021, a month after Canelo won the WBA super belt. He earned his mandatory spot before Canelo even started his reign. So who, exactly, was made to wait longer? I grant that Benavidez has been the Ring #1 for the entirety of that time, but that's at least in part because he got there first and won the WBC title, while Canelo jumped the WBA queue and took Morrell's place vs Callum Smith. There's a persistent boxing media narrative that Benavidez is the Boogeyman for Canelo, but let's give Morrell some credit too, please.

[Mr. David]

Benavidez especially was made to wait? C'mon Greisman (using just last names so we can all keep the Davids straight). Benavidez lost his real belt twice, once up his nose and once on the scales, and didn't earn his interim belt until May 21, 2022. Morrell won his WBA interim belt August 8, 2020, before Canelo had his first fight in the division, and was upgraded to WBA regular champ in January 2021, a month after Canelo won the WBA super belt. He earned his mandatory spot before Canelo even started his reign. So who, exactly, was made to wait longer? I grant that Benavidez has been the Ring #1 for the entirety of that time, but that's at least in part because he got there first and won the WBC title, while Canelo jumped the WBA queue and took Morrell's place vs Callum Smith. There's a persistent boxing media narrative that Benavidez is the Boogeyman for Canelo, but let's give Morrell some credit too, please.

So many Davids! I once was in a baseball game where, between us players and the coaches on both teams, there were nine Davids involved.

I guess I am part of that persistent media narrative, because I'm persistently narrating that Benavidez needs to be next for Canelo. Benavidez was the top remaining contender after Canelo's excellent run through the three super middleweight titleholders.

It wasn't meant to be a slight about Morrell. You aptly and correctly note the difference in timing between Benavidez's WBC interim belt and Morrell's WBA "regular" belt. Where I differ with you is that, to me, Benavidez had accomplished more and was therefore more deserving. Interestingly enough, Morrell and his team have been more outspoken over these years about wanting Benavidez.

Thank you for holding me to task!
-David

[crimsonfalcon07]

So many Davids! I once was in a baseball game where, between us players and the coaches on both teams, there were nine Davids involved.

I guess I am part of that persistent media narrative, because I'm persistently narrating that Benavidez needs to be next for Canelo. Benavidez was the top remaining contender after Canelo's excellent run through the three super middleweight titleholders.

It wasn't meant to be a slight about Morrell. You aptly and correctly note the difference in timing between Benavidez's WBC interim belt and Morrell's WBA "regular" belt. Where I differ with you is that, to me, Benavidez had accomplished more and was therefore more deserving. Interestingly enough, Morrell and his team have been more outspoken over these years about wanting Benavidez.

Thank you for holding me to task!
-David

I definitely agree that Benavidez is more accomplished and that's the fight I'd like to see from Canelo if he's still serious about "daring to be great". But the narrative isn't about whether he's the most deserving contender. I don't think that's even in question, to be honest. The narrative is that he's the one who's been waiting the longest, and that's simply untrue. And, as Canelo and others have amply demonstrated over the years, deserving in terms of accomplishments doesn't have anything to do with getting the fight. All a fighter can do is jump through the alphabet organizations' hoops and try to get a mandatory shot ordered.

On that line, Benavidez has gotten and lost a world title twice. Morrell has yet to get his opportunity, and from what I've seen, he's fought everyone who was willing to sign in the dotted line. By the time he gets his next fight, he'll have been mandatory for a belt for 4 years without a title shot being ordered, and he went pro August 2019. He defended his version of the title 6 times, compared to 4 for Benavidez (one of which was a rematch against Gabriel) across both title reigns and his interim belt. What would you have him do, especially since the boxing media doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that he's been waiting for a mandatory shot for nearly the entirety of his pro career?