David Morrell hasn’t faced any elite-level competition yet, but he believes no one should be above him at 168 pounds.
Ranking the super middleweight division is subjective, but in the eyes of many, both David Benavidez and Canelo Alvarez are seen as the best at 168 pounds.
Álvarez, 33, has maintained his position as the division’s leader for nearly half a decade. With the Mexican star holding every major world title, he is currently scanning the rest of the super middleweight landscape in search of the next best available opponent.
Benavidez, the WBC interim champion, has done everything he can to prove that he is a worthy contender. With back-to-back wins over top-tier opponents Caleb Plant and Demetrius Andrade, Benavidez is patiently waiting his turn.
Morrell, in general, has been frustrated. And unfortunately for Sena Agbeko, the 25-year-old took it out on him last weekend.
In just two rounds, Agbeko was out of his element, leading to a second-round knockout loss. The 31-year-old, while respected, has never been seen as an elite contender. However, Morrell is convinced that the way he went about business should force fans to open their eyes and pay attention.
The 25-year-old is not picky. As long as his next opponent has some sort of name recognition for him, he will be more than willing to face him. However, in a perfect world, Morrell would prefer to face Benavidez or Alvarez. In terms of who he thinks would give him the hardest time in the ring, Morrell thought long and hard before giving his answer.
“It’s a tough question,” Morrell admitted recently. “But I think maybe Canelo.”
Ironically, Benavidez, not Alvarez, is the one Morrell has been targeting. Pragmatically, the Cuban knows that a confrontation with Álvarez is not likely. Benavidez, on the other hand, has given him a little hope.
No matter who is next to take his place, Morrell acknowledges that neither of them would be a walk in the park.
“Benavidez is also tough. “They are both great fighters.”
