Two-time world boxing champion David Benavidez (29-0, 24 KO’s) will square off with fellow undefeated contender David Morrell (11-0, 9 KO’s) in a WBC interim world light heavyweight (175 pounds) championship fight, according to an Instagram post by Benavidez on Tuesday.
Benavidez stated in the post that the date and location will be announced shortly but, according to an ESPN report, the fight will likely take place in a PBC promoted and pay-per-view televised main event on January 25 in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Benavidez, who was born in Phoenix and fights out of Miami, twice held world titles at super middleweight (168 pounds).
Morrell, 26, is a southpaw and, like Benavidez, is a former super middleweight who made the leap to light heavyweight during the summer.
Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, Morrell resides in Minneapolis.
For some time, Benavidez has been after boxing’s king, Canelo Alvarez, but has been unsuccessful at securing the big fight.
Benavidez secured the WBC interim light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15 in Las Vegas.
The winner of the Benavidez-Morrell fight will be placed in a strong position to face the winner of Saturday’s undisputed light heavyweight championship bout between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
