David Morrell is one of the most exhilarating fighters in the world currently. With an ideal combination of natural skills and hard work, the Cuban has been rising in the boxing world rapidly. In just his 12th fight, he has the chance to establish himself as the legit undisputed contender in the light heavyweight division.

However, another unstoppable force in the form of David Benavidez is standing in front of him. On February 1, in a matter of a few hours, the duo will put everything on the line for 12 rounds to get away with a win. With stakes higher than ever, the tension between the camps has been escalating constantly and the bubble finally burst during their final press conference day-before-yesterday when Morrell’s manager Luis DeCubas Sr got into a scuffle with the Mexican Monster.

DeCubas has been with Osvary Morrell since his amateur days and has been a major reason behind the latter’s success. So ahead of the February 1 bout, let’s take a look at how DeCubas Sr impacted David Morrell’s career and his latest verbal spat with David Benavidez.

Meet Luis DeCubas Sr, David Morrell’s manager

Luis DeCubas Sr is a prominent boxing manager known for reviving the career of Roberto Duran. The Miami native has worked with more than 23 world champions in his managerial career. However, none of his fighters impressed him like a 17-year-old David Morrell in a fight against Julio Cesar La Cruz. While the Santa Clara native lost the fight, it was enough for the promoter to predict that he will go a long way and his gamble is looking right with each passing day.

Morrell impressed the promoter so much that he booked him in a WBA super middleweight “interim” world title match after only three fights. Something he wouldn’t have done even for Joel Casamayor, the greatest Cuban boxer according to DeCubas. “I would never have had Joel Casamayor fight a guy like Lennox Allen when he was 2-0,” stated the career veteran.

It is not just Morrell who has benefited from working with Luis DeCubas Sr. The latter is easily one of the biggest names in boxing management currently. After serving 40 years in boxing management, DeCubas was nominated for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2023. It is safe to say that the Cuban-born promoter has had an interesting life.

Born in Cuba, DeCubas immigrated to the US in 1966 and initially settled in Minnesota, before moving to Miami. He started his boxing journey, collaborating with trainers like Chris and Angelo Dundee. After orchestrating Duran’s comeback against Iran Barkley in 1989, there was no turning back for him.

His brother, Ricardo DeCubas, was a boxing trainer and has worked with Jorge Luis Gonzalez. Even DeCubas Sr.’s wife, Samia DeCubas, was chosen as the Puerto Rico Promoter of the Year in 1997. Now, his son Luis DeCubas Jr. is carrying his legacy forward.

Luis DeCubas’s management style is deeply personal and he treats his clients like a family. He also has a soft spot for David Morrell, his crown jewel. However, with such deep connections, sometimes emotions can take over. So what exactly happened in the final conference for the David Benavidez vs. David Morrell fight?

David Benavidez’s altercation with Luis DeCubas Sr

In the lead-up to the February 1 bout, the tension was escalating quickly because of the high stakes. Both camps have been in constant confrontations and verbal exchanges for the past few months. During the final press conference, the animosity reached a boiling point as Luis DeCubas had no plan of slowing down.

During the event, the veteran promoter declared David Benavidez’s behavior as a sign of his fear. He suggested that the Mexican Monster knew that David Morrell was going to knock him out and took it one step further. The Miami native claimed that the Mexican star only fights against older and smaller fighters.

The Interim WBC light heavyweight champion was never going to take this silently and hit out at the boxing veteran. During a conversation with Fight Hub TV, Benavidez asserted, “If I could slap his(David Morrell) manager, I would slap him if I didn’t get in trouble,” showcasing the bad blood between camps.

The tension was further fueled by a dispute over who shook hands and who didn’t. Jose Benavidez Sr. and Luis DeCubas Sr. also had an intense argument in Spanish. Thankfully, the Phoenix native controlled his instinct and didn’t slap DeCubas, because it would have been troublesome.

However, despite everything, the hype for this fight is pretty high. If David Morrell secures the victory, it will be another masterstroke by Luis DeCubas Sr. So far, he has not failed by betting on the 27-year-old Cuban fighter, and even against David Benavidez, chances are he can pull off a heist. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts down below.