Rosado: Morel needs traps to counter Benavidez's size

Veteran Gabe Rosado says David Morrell will need to “set a trap” for him to fight the boxer on Feb. 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas David Benavidez “set a trap” during his 48-day battle. Rosado believes Morel (11-0, 9 KOs) can’t match the high output of Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and may be buried by his size knock down.

Many fans believe Benavidez is too experienced for Morel and his size makes him a nightmare. However, the Cuban Morel's strength, mobility and boxing skills gave him a huge advantage. After a 175 fight, Morel looked more suited to this division than Benavidez.

Morell will compete for his WBA “regular” light heavyweight title against WBC interim champion Benavidez in the headliner of the PBC Prime Video PPV. The winner of this match will be able to challenge for the undisputed championship at 175.

Rosado's Prediction

“David Morel vs. David Benavidez. I like Benavidez, but you can't sleep on Morel,” Gabe Rosado said of the two on February 1 Speaking to Fight Hub TV during the fight between the boxers. “Benavidez doesn't have to be in this fight. Morel is the one who needs this fight.

“Morrell kind of hit the jackpot. So, if he can win this fight, he's right there because no one's really calling Morel out. So, it shows what kind of dog Benavidez is. He was like, 'Okay, whatever. Let's run it.

“No one behaves like this to Benavidez,” Rosado said of Morel talking trash during his confrontation with Benavidez. “It's going to be a firefight. They're both going to clash. It's going to be who gets the ball because they're both going to shoot.

This is a great fight for Morel to prove himself against a guy many fans consider a future star. Benavidez has restrained himself for the past 11 years, choosing to fight at 168 rather than move up to 175, where he would have more opportunities to have interesting fights. If he moves up to light heavyweight in 2014, his career will go even further. Benavidez foolishly thought Canelo Alvarez would finally fight him, and he waited ten years. What a mistake.

“I think Morel is the bigger puncher of the two, but Benavidez's punches allow you to punch,” Rosado said. “So, what's going to win? Is it the power or the volume? That's it. That's the end result, because I don't think Morel can match the volume of Benavidez.

There is no guessing who has the stronger punch between Morel and Benavidez. Apparently Morel. Could Benavidez be a bigger puncher if he didn't focus on punch volume? Maybe, but he prefers to punch in succession rather than slam.

Strategy: Trap

“He keeps punching you. He doesn't get tired. So Morel has to set up traps to shoot in this fight,” Rosado said.

Benavidez is definitely tired. We saw this in his last match against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th. He tired after six rounds and took heavy punches from Gvozdyk several times in the second half.