https://twitter.com/SweetHandsPlant/status/1588279180281532417?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1588279180281532417|twgr^c3ca6985c771e4d93711cce30d341ea6da91fdab|twcon^s1_c10&ref_url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2022/11/3/23439582/david-benavidez-vs-caleb-plant-reportedly-signed-early-2023-boxing-news-2022 Benavidez vs Plant reportedly signed for early 2023
Credit to Plant for stepping up. With his ''fight stiffs after stiffs and pray to win the Canelo lottery'' approach of the past few years, I never thought he was going to take a dangerous fight like that unless the payday was monstrous (which I doubt it is). Still, I expect Benavidez to win convincingly
I'm definitely looking forward to this one. There's no question that Benevidez is the favorite on paper. Based on how they looked in their last fights. But I don't think it will be a walk in the park for Benevidez either. I can easily see Plant pulling off the upset and maybe out boxing Benevidez. As tough as Benevidez is I see a lot of flaws in his style that Plant could exploit. The lesser quality opponents David has had in the last 3 or 4 fights have not been able to do much. There's a video floating around where Plant and Benevidez' older bro get into an argument at the boxing gym and his bro got smacked by Plant. David Benevidez was a foot away yet hesitated to react. Which tells me he respects Plant enough to avoid a street fight with him. So we know Plant wont be intimidated.
Awesome match up. The prefight build up should be interesting. Finally get to see Benavidez tested. Plant seems like he's hungry for redemption though.
I have no doubt Plant will get shots in and in spots outbox Benavidez but I cannot see him keeping it up. Not for 12 rounds, at least. I see Benavidez ending this within 9 rounds.
Don't get all excited yet. I won't believe this one is happening until fight week. I just have a bad feeling that one will pull out, one will get injured in training, one will get arrested, something!
I'm hoping it happens. I am a bit skeptical since Plant pulled out of the Canelo fight before over money. But it was a negotiation tactic. I don't believe either Plant and Benevidez are afraid to face each other. There's some bad blood between them and since Canelo is out for a year it makes perfect sense to make the fight.
I think it's still too early for Morrell. I think he needs another year before he can whup Benavidez.
Maybe But if I was his team I'd make it now. A loss is a loss. He's competitive no matter what. At this point the way the game is fucked up it makes no sense to stall such a matchup if it's on the table
Hell yeah that would be a war. It's a 50-50 fight I think. But Plant vs Benevidez is set. They have a date so maybe Morrell can beat that bum Berlanga. Is he still fighting?
I'm not saying to stall. Giving it one year when both guys are still in their mid-20s is no big deal. Morrell needs maybe 3 quality fights over the next year, then if Benavidez is still winning, make it! I'm not saying to push it off by 3-4 years. I'm saying that by late 2023 or early 2024, Benavidez-Morrell might be the best matchup to make in boxing.
That mentality is what's killing boxing. I'm surprised you would want Morrell to wait 3 more fights for him to fight Benevidez. Both guys are in their 20s and both have been battle tested. There is no reason to wait. 3 or 4 fights is a life time in boxing. Injuries, losses, legal troubles could derail the fight. I say do it now while they're both undefeated, young and available(assuming Benevidez gets past Plant).
Morrell has 8 fucking fights. 8... fucking... fights. I'm saying get 10-11 under his belt. If I thought he couldn't win, I wouldn't care. I'd say the Hell with it, just do it now. But I think he can beat Benavidez within a year. Possibly stop him. Morrell is 24. Benavidez is 25. Waiting a year for them to fight is not over-marinating. There's a big difference between stalling, and leading a guy into a David Reid/Davey Moore situation where it's too much, too soon.
On the topic at hand, Benavidez needs to make a statement against Plant. Beating him won't be enough. He needs to destroy him quicker and easier than Nelo did. Caleb's only shot is catch Bena on the end of his check hook and badly hurt him. If Benavidez can get inside and corner Plant, it's gonna be a violent night for Plant.
3 more fights means 3 years of stalling. morrell is one of the few haymon fighters who has actually fought twice a year over the past 4 years. only because his purse minimums are low as shit. once they have to start actually paying him he'll be fighting once or zero times a year like the rest of the stable
Let's say Morrell-Benavidez happens in Morrell's very next fight. Hell, maybe Morrell wins. But maybe Benavidez kicks his ass, and Morrell's career is never quite the same. 20 years from now, boxing fans will be whining that: "David Morrell could have been special if he had a few more fights to develop."
Or fans would be like remember that epic badass fight between Benevidez and Morrell. Hagler vs Hearns type war. I get what you're alluding to. Morrell seems like a young talent and the last think you want is have another David Reid or Fernando Vargas situation where a fighter becomes damaged goods after one night. But I can see the other side of the coin where Morrell could walk away unscathed and get a solid win vs a respectable and dangerous opponent that would change his boxing career. Look Loma fought Gary Russel Jr on only his second fight. Granted Loma is arguably the guy that holds the best amatuer record 300+ fights and 1 loss. But Morrell comes from the Cuban amateur program one of the best in the world. Same school of boxing as Casamayor, Rigo, Sanchez and Joey Napoles. Cubans know how to make great boxers. I think Morrell with his amateur and olympic background will be just fine.
Nano Vargas was a bit different. Vargas was at his peak when he fought Trinidad. He was a finished article; Tito was just a better and more talented fighter. Morrell appears to be a better talent than Benavidez. However, we won't know for sure until he's a bit more seasoned and experienced. It's not at all unreasonable to believe he needs maybe 10-11 fights. It would be a different story if these guys were in their mid-30s. But at 24 and 25, respectably, it's not a huge deal if they fight in say Fall 2023, or even early 2024.
BTW, Rigo was on such a fast-track because Rigo turned pro at an advanced age. Morrell is 24. There's no age rush. That's not to say I want him to be like Tank Davis, damn near 30 and never having faced an elite guy. But I'm saying it's okay if he has a few more tests against solid guys before he gets in Bena.
Reid and Moore were titlists also. They still got ruined by opponents they weren't ready for. And they had more fights than Morrell. That's not to say Benavidez is as good as Duran and Tito, but the point stands. I say Morrell needs about a year.
