Chris Algieri views David Morrell Jr. in high regard, believing he can beat Canelo Alvarez and anyone in the super middleweight division, which includes David Benavidez, who has chosen to dismiss the callouts by the unbeaten WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight champion Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs).
The WBC interim champ Benavidez has been loath to accept a fight against Morrell, dismissing the idea of fighting him as not in his plans. Given the nickname ‘The Mexican Monster’ by Mike Tyson, Benavidez is holding out for a massive payday match against superstar Canelo this year in May or September.
Benavidez would be an excellent stepping stone for the 25-year-old Cuban Morrell to use to open the door for a fight against Canelo Alvarez, but they may not happen and is missing out on giving the fans an appealing match-up that would be an eliminator-type of a clash.
The winner puts himself in the catbird seat for a fight with Canelo, while the loser tries to pick up the pieces and rebuild as quickly as possible.
It’s safe to say the loser of a Benavidez-Morrell fight could permanently forget about a clash against Canelo, but it’s not the end. They can still become stars if they stay busy and not sulk like some fighters do after suffering a setback.
Algieri’s Endorsement: A Future King in the Making?
“He could knock off anyone. He could beat Canelo. I could see that. He has the ability, the skill, and the size. I think he could beat anyone in the division,” said Chris Algieri to ProBox TV. “He’s tall, he’s long, he’s got boxing skills, he’s got power, he’s got a finishing instinct.
Algieri likes what he sees in Morrell, noting that he’s got the size and power to beat anyone now. Morrell’s recent second-round knockout of Sena Agbeko last December on Showtime’s final boxing broadcast was very impressive; it was a statement-type fight.
“He’s a very tough guy to deal with, and I think people are going to avoid him as much as much as possible.
“Morrell is so good that I don’t think Canelo wants any parts of him either,” Paulie Malignaggi said about Morrell. “I don’t think Canelo wants any part of either of them.”