It was all respect between David Benavidez and David Morrell following their early FOTY contender in Las Vegas on Saturday night. We cannot say the same for Benavidez and Morrell’s manager, Luis DeCubas Sr.
DeCubas had already gotten into a verbal confrontation with Benavidez during the pre-fight press conference, saying “The Mexican Monster” had the balls to face Morrell but questioning whether he had the chin. Benavidez fired back, claiming DeCubas was taking a bigger cut of Morrell’s purse than Morrell would get.
That claim would get brought back up again after Benavidez unified the light heavyweight championship with 115-111, 115-111, and 118-108 scorecards. After arriving at the post-fight presser, Benavidez took to the stage and shook DeCubas’ and Morrell’s hands. DeCubas grabbed Benavidez’s arm and started talking to the champ and jabbing his finger into his chest.
“He called me a thief, man,” DeCubas declared after everyone was seated. “And I’m not gonna sit here and take it like that.”
Benavidez shrugged off the comments and went on to give Morrell back his WBA light heavyweight belt as a show of respect. But when DeCubas continued to mutter random trash at him, he finally exploded.
“Bro, I’m gonna f—king tell you, bro: I’m gonna slap the f—k outta you,” Benavidez said. “You better calm the f—k down.”
“Come on and do it, baby,” the elderly DeCubas responded. “I’m not afraid of you!”
At that point, staff swarmed the stage and ushered Team Morrell away before things could get any more heated.
“You better tell your guy that’s the last time he f—king threatens me or else we’re gonna have some f—king problems,” Benavidez said. “Tell that motherf—ker not to be threatening me no more. We’ll really have some problems.”
Given how well Morrell did against Benavidez, we might end up seeing this one play out again down the road. And we’re sure DeCubas will be there to talk trash the entire way.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
