David Benavidez turns 28 today, December 17, as he prepares to fight newly minted WBA heavyweight champion David Morrell on February 1 in Las Vegas. Benavidez won the WBC title in his last fight against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th.

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) fought hard to earn a twelve round decision against Gvozdyk. In an interview, Benavidez said that he went into the fight with two injured and cut hands recently. He says those injuries stopped him from being 100%. This is what I was afraid of. Benavidez is starting to break out of his long, long career in the sport.

Benavidez's troubles

He is 28 years old, but could be 38. Benavidez had a long professional career with Artur Beterbiev as a light heavyweight champion, and he was plagued by numerous injuries. Being in the game for 10+ years takes its toll on a fighter. It's very difficult to keep fighting at the top level when a guy has been playing for a long time.

The injuries that Benavidez is starting to sustain are signs that his body is breaking down from his long career. Although he is still young at 28, he has been working in the sport for eleven years. There are many fighters who are physically exhausted by the time they reach the age of 10 in the pro game. It has nothing to do with the age of the year.

Physical damage is caused by wear and tear, and Benavidez can show signs of it early. First, the hands go, followed by twists and turns. He hasn't fought any fighters in his career other than the 37-year-old Gvozdyk, who lightened him up in a fight at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Benavidez went through that fight without getting knocked out, but he beat Gvozdyk.

David makes fun of himself because he's not a boxer, even at 168. His fights have come against older, smaller fighters and he hasn't shown any signs of it. of power in his 11-year career.

Benavidez looked the same as always, power wise, but the difference was that he lacked guns at 175, as it did against the smaller fighters he fought at 168. He was great for that break, and it was like him. most are older than in recent years by its promoters. Moving up to 175, Benavidez's power wasn't the same, and his two injured arms didn't matter.

Symptoms of Depression

"There were many injuries in this fight. Seven weeks into the fight, I tore a tendon or ligament (in the right hand). It was a very serious injury," said David. Benavidez to Tobintalks about why he fought badly in his debut at 175 against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th in Las Vegas.

"They said it would take seven weeks to recover from that. Well, I don't know. I'm going to go ahead and use my left hand, hopefully, until the fight (Gvozdyk) comes to then, this (right hand) will recover. So, I throw punches, five weeks before the fight, I hit the guy (sparring partner) on the head.

“I really broke it and couldn't use it (left hand). That hurt a lot," said Benavidez, pointing out that he injured both hands while fighting Gvozdyk, the 37-year-old WBC light heavyweight champion. "So, I was like, 'No way. I will cancel the fight. So, I'm going to give it time to heal.'”

The Gvozdyk fight is life and death for Benavidez regardless of his injuries, as this guy is a level above the guys he beat at 168. Who Benavidez beat at 168 can You call it a good hero. ? These are three of the best Benavidez has fought during his career as a heavyweight: Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade, and Anthony Dirrell. We're not talking about A-level guys. Those are B-level fighters, two of whom are very old.

"Two weeks later, I played there again and in the 12th round, I cut my (left) eye," Benaviez continued about his injury. “I got 13 stitches. I was torn. I didn't know what to do. I have this injury (left hand) and this injury (right hand), and I have an island. Because the fans mean a lot to me, this means a lot to the people of boxing and the people of PBC.

"I was like, 'You know what? I'm just going to go in there and pray that my arms will heal. That's where my strength is. I'm going to keep fighting.' I didn't tell you. I'm in the dressing room, I'm hitting the mitts. I'm feeling this (right hand). "

Morrell will be honored

Like I said, Benavidez's body is breaking down from his long career in the sport, and he may not have much time left. It is likely that he will be injured in his training camp for the Morrell fight. If he doesn't delay the fight, he will enter the match against the Cuban Morrell with injuries to one or both hands. That's not the type of guy Benavidez can fight with injuries because this talent will cut him down.

"I went there and I did well. I won eight or nine rounds against a fighter (Gvozdyk). He's an Olympic silver medalist, he's a light heavyweight unification champion (edit: Gvozdyk is a former WBC 175-lb champion, NOT a former unification champion),” said Benavidez.

Contrary to what Benafvidez said, he did NOT do a "big job" in his fight with Gvozdyk. That match was 100% as if it had been scored 12 rounds. Although the judges did Benavidez a favor by awarding him the win, he can't expect to be awarded a decision against Morrell because he takes the judges out of the equation with his powerful punching. .