LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Boxer David Benavidez works out at Pound 4 Pound Gym on January 09, … [+] 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Benavidez is scheduled to meet WBA light heavyweight champion David Morrell Jr. in a bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 01. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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One of the most anticipated boxing matchups of early 2025 goes down tonight in Las Vegas when David Benavidez faces David Morrell in a light heavyweight grudge match. The winner of Saturday’s fight, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, could wind up with a shot at the undisputed light heavyweight belt. The winner is also almost guaranteed to call for a matchup against Canelo Alvarez, something both Benavidez and Morrell have done with no success over the past few years. Also on the card is a WBC featherweight title fight with champion Brandon Figueroa facing Stephen Fulton in a rematch of their 2021 scrap that Fulton won via majority decision. We have live coverage of the entire fight card and will update the Benavidez vs. Morrell card results as they happen.
The Benavidez vs. Morrell main card streams on Amazon Prime Video following prelims on YouTube.
Benavidez vs. Morrell Fight Card Time
Prelims: 6:00 p.m. ET
Main Card: 8 p.m. ET
Main Event: 11 p.m. ET
Benavidez vs. Morrell Main Event Ring Walk Time
Benavidez and Morrell are expected to make the walk to the ring at T-Mobile Arena at approximately 11 p.m. ET for their 12-round scrap.
Benavidez vs. Morrell How To Watch or Stream
Prelims: YouTube
Main Card and Main Event: Amazon Prime Video PPV
Benavidez vs. Morrell PPV Price
$79.95
Benavidez vs. Morrell Location
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Benavidez vs. Morrell PPV Main Card
175 lbs.: Interim WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David Benavidez vs. WBA Light Heavyweight Titleholder David Morrell Jr. (12×3)
126 lbs.: WBC Featherweight Champion Brandon Figueroa vs. Stephen Fulton (12×3)
140 lbs.: Isaac Cruz vs. Angel Fierro (10×3)
160 lbs.: Jesus Ramos vs. Jeison Rosario (10×3)
Benavidez vs. Morrell Preliminary Card
160 lbs.: Jose Benavidez Jr. vs. Danny Rosenberger (8×3)
130 lbs.: Kaipo Gallegos vs. Leonardo Padilla (6×3)
168 lbs.: Daniel Blancas vs. Juan Barajas (8×3)
168 lbs.: John Easter vs. Joseph Aguilar (6×3)
Mirco Cuello defeats Christian Olivo via TKO at 2:01 of Round 10
Yoenli Hernandez defeats Angel Ruiz via TKO at 1:06 of Round 5
Curmel Moton defeats Frank Zaldivar via TKO at 1:51 of Round 3
Benavidez vs. Morrell Results Main Card
Benavidez vs. Morrell Results, Reactions, Live Updates
Benavidez vs. Morrell Results Preliminary Card
Mirco Cuello Vs. Christian Olivo
Judging from the odds, Christian Olivo was supposed to be a warm-up opponent to launch Mirco Cuello into a WBA featherweight title fight. The more experienced Olivo was not interested in playing that role.
Olivo used his experience and composure to pull away from Cuello in the first nine rounds of the fight. Olivo was effective with his combinations and targets, mixing things up while countering Cuello, who got away from his jab and began overthrowing with power early in the contest. When Olivo scored a second-round knockdown, it was the first time Cuello hit the deck.
When Cuello began to fight aggressively and showed a sense of urgency in the later rounds, Olivo stayed with his game plan and used the openings to counter with combinations to the head and body.
Then, in the 10th round, Olivo, perhaps looking to go for a finish, upped his aggression, but Cuello did not wilt under that pressure. Then, with the clock ticking down, Cuello found an opening, landing a body shot that put Olivo to a knee. After the eight-count, Cuello found the mark again with another body shot. After that second knockdown, the referee waved things off, giving Cuello the win.
Cuello showed some inexperience in this contest, but he moved to 15-0 with 12 knockouts. If he does land a title fight, his team should review this fight and shore up some of his deficiencies, some of which are abandoning his jab and looking to land more power punches than necessary.
Yoenli Hernandez Vs. Angel Ruiz
Yoenli Hernandez moved to 7-0 with a one-sided thrashing of Angel Ruiz in their middleweight matchup. The fight ended in the fifth round when the referee waved things off at 1:06 due to the accumulation of damage, and there was a lot of that.
The 27-year-old Cuban now has seven knockouts in seven outings. Hernandez looked excellent for as long as this fight lasted. He entered the contest as an enormous betting favorite, and he deserved to be, as Hernandez’s skills overwhelmed Ruiz.
Hernandez is a heavily muscled fighter who uses his size well. He closes distance effectively and when he’s in close, Hernandez unloads powerful combos to the head and body. His footwork and use of angles allow him to find openings, especially with his uppercuts. Another area where Hernandez excelled was putting pressure on Ruiz throughout the fight, never giving him the time or space to respond to his attacks.
Hernandez looked very good, but Ruiz was overmatched. It would be nice to see Hernandez take a big step up in competition or at least be given a matchup against an opponent who could test him a bit. Ruiz was not that fighter.
Benavidez vs. Morrell Results Fight Card Video Highlights
Benavidez on Morrell
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: Boxer David Benavidez shadowboxes as he works out at Pound 4 Pound … [+] Gym on January 09, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Benavidez is scheduled to meet WBA light heavyweight champion David Morrell Jr. in a bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 01. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Benavidez (29-0, 24 KO) had the following to offer during the press conference for Saturday’s fight, “Here we are again. I told you that I was going to give you the fights you want to see, and now we’re here. Morrell has been talking about me for a while and disrespecting me. He wanted to make it personal with me, so I’m personally going to break his mouth. That’ll give him something to remember me by.
“These are the type of fighters I want to fight. I want to face guys who think that they’re going to go in there and knock me out. He’s never fought anyone like me and I’m going to show everyone there’s levels to this.
“I want the props that I deserve when I beat the crap out of him. I love that he’s confident. I love facing guys like this.
“He knows what he said and that’s exactly what I needed to get me going for this fight. He thinks he’s big and bad, but he’s nothing. I’m gonna show him who’s the best on February 1.
“It’s not time to play anymore. It’s really time to see who the best David is. I want to show everyone where I stand. I want to take over and show everyone I’m the most ferocious fighter out there.”
Morrell on Benavidez
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 29: David Morrell during a Media Day ahead of his upcoming fight on … [+] Wednesday on July 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images)
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Speaking to Kevin Iole, Morrell (11-0, 9 KO) said of his upcoming opponent, “Benavidez is considered one of the most dangerous fighters in boxing, so when I beat him, everyone will see what I’m capable of. People call him ‘The Mexican Monster,’ but I’m not scared of monsters! I hunt them down! He’s never faced someone like me, and come fight night, he’s going to realize that I’m faster, stronger and smarter than anyone he’s ever stepped in the ring with.”
“He’s been running his mouth, calling me out and disrespecting my name,” Morrell added. “That’s fine with me, because words won’t save him when we’re face-to-face in the ring. All this trash talk just fuels me. He’s going to regret every word when I make him eat his pride punch-by-punch.”
Benavidez vs. Morrell What’s At Stake:
There’s a great deal on the line during Saturday’s Benavidez vs. Morrell fight, and to the victor go the spoils.
The winner becomes the mandatory challenger to face the victor of the upcoming February 22 rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. On the line in that fight is the undisputed light heavyweight title that Beterbiev picked up when he defeated Bivol via majority decision in October 2024.
While fighting for the undisputed light heavyweight crown will be nice, the bigger prize could be a potential matchup against Canelo Alvarez, a man both Benavidez and Morrell have been gunning for.
Benavidez (29-0) enters Saturday’s fight coming off a decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC interim light heavyweight belt in June 2024.
Morrell’s (11-0) most recent outing was an August 2024 decision victory over Radivoje Kalajdzic for the WBA crown.
Figueroa On Fulton
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 09: WBC featherweight champion Brandon Figueroa poses in the ring … [+] after working out at Pound 4 Pound Gym on January 09, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Figueroa is scheduled to defend his title against Stephen Fulton Jr. at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 01. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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“I’m very excited to be sharing this card with these talented boxers up here,” Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KO) said at the press conference for the fight. “We put blood, sweat, and tears into this, and we’re all here to kick off a new era of boxing starting in 2025.”
“I’m excited to run it back with Fulton and give the fans another ‘Fight of the Year.’ That’s what it’s all about.”
“It feels amazing to be back fighting Fulton again. It was a ‘Fight of the Year’ candidate for a reason. We went all out and we entertained the fans. It’s just a couple more days now until we get to do it all again.”
“I feel great at this weight. I feel very strong and very complete at this weight. I’m explosive and I’m fast. I’m very confident, and I can’t wait to go out there and have him feel that power.”
“I’m here to prove I’m the best 126-pounder in the world. I want to be one of the greats. I want to represent Mexico, represent the U.S.A., and conquer the world. I’m not scared of anyone. Just talking about it gets me excited, because I’m truly passionate about this sport.”
“I’m not going to let this fight slip away from me again. I’m 100% prepared to make a statement on Saturday night.”
“This is a whole different story than when we fought at 122 pounds. I’m coming to get my lick back.”
Fulton On Figueroa
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 13: Featherweight boxer Stephen Fulton (L) responds to a question as … [+] he is interviewed during a ceremonial weigh-in in Toshiba Plaza at T-Mobile Arena on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fulton is scheduled to fight Carlos Castro at the arena on September 14. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
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“I’m here in another great position for my life and career,” Stephen Fulton (22-1, 8 KO) said. “I know that he’s going to come prepared, and I’m more than prepared.”
“My mindset is different this time. I’m a calmer person. I’ve grown as a person and as a fighter since we fought the first time.”
“My only objective is to get that victory, and it doesn’t matter how it goes down or how I get it. I will be a two-division world champion Saturday night. It has to end with my hand raised.”
“The only thing I’m focused on is becoming a two-division world champion. I’m not thinking about any other fighter. I’m living in the moment and taking it one day at a time. When Saturday comes, I’ll be more than ready to win again.”
“My trainer ‘Bozy’ Ennis has given me a different look at things both offensively and defensively. He’s a major asset adding onto what I already had in my corner. It’s also motivating being around young fighters like his son Jaron Ennis, so it’s all really pushed me forward.”
We will update the the Benavidez Vs. Morrell results live during tonight’s fight card from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
