Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith is concerned about David Benavidez's injury because he stands in front of his opponents, doesn't move, and has no head movement. Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) hangs in front of his opponent and lets his hands go.

(Credit: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Arts)

Smith's Memoirs

WBC champion Benavidez could be injured in his next fight when he fights David Morell on February 1 in their 12th match at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

If Benavidez is knocked out in this fight, he will have to decide whether to try to go back to 168, or stay at 175 and enjoy being a contender instead of a world champion.

Morrell is the same size as Benavidez but has more strength, speed and technical skills. He came from a Cuban boxing school and didn't learn all the bad habits that Benavidez did during his years fighting smaller opponents.

Smith is a huge fan of Benavidez, and if he still has his head wrapped around Canelo Alvarez, he should fight him. That fight will not happen. The divisions are different now, and Canelo is finishing his career at 168 picking and choosing.

Benavidez, 28, who seems to have benefited from being bigger than his opponents, fought in a division under his frame for 11 years at 168 before reaching the 175.

In his debut at 175 against Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15th, we saw Benavidez get beat up all the time. Going forward, he can't score fights like he did against smaller fighters at 168.

"I'm a big fan of David Benavidez. I love Canelo, but I don't like how long Canelo is going to give him a fight," Stephen A. Smith told the Sean Zittel channel. "I admire David Benavidez because he doesn't reject anyone, he's always ready to fight.

“He's 'The Mexican Monster.' Sometimes, I wonder if someone will hurt him because he is right in front of them. He doesn't move, but he definitely shows that he can throw, and he can deliver one to one with one hand," Smith said of Benavidez.

“He has speed, power, boxing ability and heart. I don't know if David Benavidez is a bigger fan than me. I have a lot of respect for his talent and I want to see him on the big stage,” said Smith.

Stephen A. is a boxing fan, not the mature type, who follows the sport. So, he doesn't know that Benavidez is no longer in Canelo's orbit. He also doesn't know that Benavidez didn't fight elite level opposition to earn his 'Mexican Monster' nickname in the truest sense. He was a heavy hitter who fought against older, smaller soldiers.

The Handshake

"Benavidez got in trouble by trying to shake his hand. Those Cuban boys, they look like they're playing, but it's really bad to think that someone thinks they can beat them," said Coach Greg Hackett YSM Sports Mediatalks about today's conflicts.

After all that Benavidez has said about Morrell, there is no chance that he will shake his hand during their face-to-face today in Miami. Benavidez never tried to shake Morrell's hand because he was asking for trouble.

"When Benavidez went up to him and tried to shake his hand, he didn't do that. Morrell was like, 'No, we're not having that. We're going to make noise. The bad stuff. all you said about me, now you want to shake my hand?'”