Benavidez demands clean fight with Morel

David Benavidez said David Morrell had been complaining about a drug test for the Feb. 1 game and he didn't think he wanted to be tested by VADA.

WBA interim light heavyweight champion Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) expressed doubts, saying that WBA “regular” champion Morel (11-0, 9 KOs) may be worried about his “Problems may occur” during this test.

Benavidez gets PED card

Some fans saw Benavidez's complaints as him laying an early foundation for the new season. PED excuses Morel's potential loss was blamed in advance on possible steroid use.

Anytime Benefdez mentioned steroids in the build-up to the fight, doubts arose about Morell's victory. Morel didn't even need to test positive for PEDs for people to believe he was using steroids because they were linked to his name during the game.

Benavidez will receive less Criticism from fans, if they thought Morel was dirty, his stock wouldn't have fallen as badly. Morel never tested positive for steroids, but that didn't matter. Benavidez mentioning this in interviews would lead people to believe Morel was using PEDS, which would taint his victory.

“When he fights, look at the people he fights. They say they do VADA, but they don't make David Morel do VADA,” David Benavidez told MillCity Boxing. “Two different fighters did this.

“He tried to do the same thing to me because we were 13 weeks into the game. When I fought Caleb Plant, we were already testing after 14 weeks. Boo Boo Andrade was out for 14 weeks. How is this guy doing? [Morrell] Heading into his biggest fight ever, he doesn't have to do VADA, and he's already been accused of steroid use.

“I'm not saying he's on steroids or anything like that, but once you don't try to take the VADA test, the damn thing looks a little weird. Also, he said he was a lab rat because he was being tested. That's it. It's clean boxing. We do VADA every week or every other week.

It would have been better if Benavidez didn't discuss PEDs before the fight, as it would have given the impression that he was already planning an excuse if things didn't work out in his favor against Morel.

“If you don't like it, you might be onto something, or you might be a little concerned that something might go wrong in these VADA tests,” Benavidez said. Me, I've been tested more than anyone in VADA, that's a fact. I have been tested over 30 times and I have never complained. I never said I was a lab rat.

“This guy [Morrell] After only three tests, he said he was a lab rat. Go look at the fights and look at the people who are blaming him. Me, I've never been accused of taking steroids. And then when you saw the press conference, when I said, 'Steroids, you don't want to test them,' Luis DeCubas stood up and started talking nonsense. Then they walked away.

“So, I don't know. You judge for yourselves. I'm pointing out things, but you're not going to tease me like I'm an idiot. If there's a VADA test, then do it and let's keep boxing clean.