BENAVIDEZ-MORRELL, CANELO VS. JAKE PAUL/TERENCE CRAWFORD || FIGHTHYPE.COM

Every Thursday here at FightHype, boxing fans gather around my bulbous, bulging sack in anticipation of an Ol’ Faithful money shot of gooey, salty truth. This Thursday is no different. So, put your goggles on and cinch up your plastic poncho, here it comes. This week, we have comments/questions regarding Benavidez-Morrell and Canelo vs. Jake Paul/Terence Crawford.

Benavidez vs. Morrell and The Future

Benavidez was too much for Morrell. Morrell didn’t jab enough or land enough to the body early on to slow down Benavidez. Morrell had a great performance, and definitely won at least  4 rounds without a doubt. He could’ve won about 5 maybe 6 rounds had he been more busy throughout the middle rounds. But there’s no way to prepare for Benavidez’s hand speed, punching power, and multiple punch combinations. Where would someone find a sparring partner to duplicate that? It doesn’t exist!

Morrell comes off as a smart fighter and a student of the game. If he gets a second crack at Benavidez it’s going to be a much closer fight. Morrell’s chin held up well as did his stamina. I’m not a big fan of victories within defeat, but Morrell stock went up considerably after this fight.

What’s next for Benavidez?  Would it make more sense for Turki to offer Canelo the big purse to fight Benavidez instead of Crawford? Does he get a shot at Bivol v Beterbiev winner? Regardless to what he’s going to have to do business with Turki if he fights anyone notable who’s not named David Morrell. Do we really wanna see Benavidez v Bivol or Beterbiev? Or should Benavidez run it back with Morrell?

– Na’-il Rahman

Hey Na’-il.

I think everything we saw in Benavidez-Morrell played out true to form. Benavidez is an elite, hard-to-handle fighter who has a lot more nuance to his game than he’s given credit for. He’s a true natural in many aspects. We also saw that Morrell is a top notch fighter who was lacking in experience for the task he was asked to handle. I’m still high on both and I think Morrell will learn and grow from this experience.

As for the future…

Yeah, of course it would make infinite more sense for Turki to try and set up Canelo vs. Benavidez, but he has no hook into Canelo or Benavidez, while Crawford is his pet project and Riyadh Season “ambassador.” So…so much for “he’s trying to make best vs. best fights.” The promise is that Benavidez has next dibs on the Beterbiev-Bivol 2 winner, but I don’t think we necessarily see that next or maybe at all.

As I wrote in this week’s Notes from the Boxing Underground column, there’s no guarantee that Benavidez won’t have to wait indefinitely for his title shot, especially if Bivol beats Beterbiev later this month and he has to wait on the outcome of a rubber match.

As I also mentioned, there’s a business component to this that could stand in the way. Unless we’re talking obscene money to fly out to Saudi Arabia for the fight, it doesn’t make much sense for Benavidez to leave the United States and give up what he’s built, in terms of marketability and bankability. Benavidez vs. the winner of Beterbiev/Bivol needs to happen in the US. I think there are fights that can be made without Turki, but it’s getting increasingly difficult to be an independent contractor in this world the Saudis have purchased. So, it might be tough to find a big name to fight if Benavidez is not willing to perform for the Saudis’ amusement in their own back yard.

Benavidez-Morrell 2 would be an option, but that would have to be further down the road, in my opinion.

For now, I think Benavidez has no choice but to wait and see how things play out.

Canelo vs. Jake Paul?

What’s this I hear about Canelo fighting Jake Paul in May? Please tell me that’s a cruel hoax. If it’s real, I’ve lost a ton of respect for the Mexican ginger, especially seeing how the guys he should be fighting (Benavidez and Morrell) had to move up a weight class and fight each other for a shot at a world title. But maybe this Jake Paul garbage is all a hoax.

– K. Slo

Hey K.

I wish I could say that Canelo-Jake Paul was bullshit, but it’s been reported by the usually reliable Julius Julianis that the two sides are in agreement for a May fight. If you take the sport seriously, like, as an actual sport, the news is nauseating, especially seeing who Canelo passed over to give this opportunity to Paul. But, on the positive side, we get to see Jake Paul brutalized.

I’m still holding out hope that the Jake Paul stuff is fake news. Paul DID recently post about a July 5 fight date in New York on his social media, so, who knows? But, honestly, I kind of don’t even care anymore what Canelo does.

Canelo vs. Crawford…Huh?

Hey Paul.

It was reported by ESPN’s Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine that Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford was being finalized for September. Now, it’s being reported by Ring Magazine that the fight is cancelled. WTF happened?

– David H.

Hey David.

Well, first, you made the mistake of believing reports by Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine.

My take is that Turki Alalshikh and his propaganda bureau at The Ring floated out that bit of fake news to push Canelo-Crawford into existence, believing that it could be wrapped up fairly quickly. Now, as February came and the time is approaching when Canelo usually announces his May opponent, they had to pull back or look like total fools when Canelo starts speaking to the press again. So, now, they say the fight has suddenly been cancelled. I call BS. It’s possible that Canelo-Crawford does happen, but it’s nowhere near a done deal and it never was.

But, again, I kinda don’t care about Canelo anymore.

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