If Nolan Richardson has a favorite fighter, my guess it would be David Benavidez, who pounded out a decisive 12 round decision over the dangerous David Morrell on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Richardson, who is Hall-of-Fame college basketball coach, was known for his fast paced, frenetic style of play that employed constant non-stop full-court pressure that was both entertaining and effective in wearing down opponents. They called this style '40 minutes of hell', and it led to multiple appearances in the Final Four for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and a national title in 1994 (shout out to Scotty Thurman).
Benavidez has an all-out two-fisted pressure attack that is 36 minutes of hell.
German Villasenor
'the Mexican Monster' is a guy who doesn't put his punches on lay-a-way. He just lets the leather fly liberally, while constantly marching forward. Benavidez throws rapid fire combinations throughout the fight and just constantly chips away at his foes. Yeah, he might have some technical flaws, but thus far, he hasn't faced anyone with the boxing acumen and toughness to truly exploit them over 12 rounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F2RSMrBfcY
Morrell, with his Cuban amateur pedigree, and southpaw style (which comes equipped with heavy hands) was thought to be a difficult foe. But unlike Caleb Plant and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, who were able to build early leads as they out-hustled Benavidez in the opening stanza's, Morrell, had to face a steady stream of punches from the opening round.
German Villasenor
The first half of the fight featured some close rounds, but you got the sense it was Benavidez who was controlling the tempo and turning up the pressure when he wanted. But Benavidez was buzzed late in the fourth as he ran into a counter right hook. Yet it was Benavidez who finished that round with a flourish.
Too many times throughout this bout, Morrell sought shelter behind his high guard but while he was able to weather the various storms, what he failed to do was punch with or in-between the salvos of Benavidez. It's impossible to put together any type of sustained offense when you're constantly on the defensive. And for Benavidez, his defense is his offense.
German Villasenor
"I wasn't surprised by anything he did because I knew he was a great fighter and that I had to prepare for everything,” said Benavidez. “I knew my defense had to be good. I actually thought he'd hit harder once we were in here. He was easier to hit than I expected. Every opportunity that I saw, I went for it.”
Morrell is a good professional, but there was no way that anyone with just 11 bouts under their belt was going to have the seasoning to handle all this. He did have pockets of success, not only did he stun Benavidez in the fourth, he scored a flash knockdown in the 11th, and then actually really hurt Benavidez after the bell in the 11th -- which promptly drew a point deduction from referee, Thomas Taylor.
Everything else in-between was controlled by determined Benavidez, who has a way of shrinking the ring on his opponents. He inevitably turns all his bouts into a phone booth (remember those things?) battle. Thus far, nobody has had enough slickness to evade him enough over 12 rounds, or hit hard enough to halt his perpetual forward march.
German Villasenor
There's a reason why Saul Alvarez really didn't want to see him at this stage of his career.
This bout was contested for the WBC interim light heavyweight title, and the Sulaiman-led organization announced beforehand that the winner would be in line to face the winner of the February 22 rematch between undisputed champion, Artur Beterbiev, and Dimitry Bivol.
"I just want to be the best of my era,” said Benavidez. “Whoever I need to fight next, I'll be ready for them. I want to unify all four titles, so if that's next, then that's next.” It will be interesting to see if Benavidez goes that route given the promotional politics that are always in play when you talk about the modern day boxing business.
German Villasenor
You don't see Benavidez on most pound-for-pound lists. A victory over either Beterbiev or Bivol would certainly place him among the games elite. For now, he's one of the most crowd pleasing fighters in the game, one that gives you your money's worth time and time again. While some boxers are overly concerned with 'the sweet science', Benavidez just gives you violent entertainment.
He is a one-man full court press.
