David Benavidez and David Morrell faced off at the final press conference ahead of their Saturday night showdown. With their fight just around the corner, it was inevitable that emotions would run high. The press conference in Las Vegas offered every bit of drama one could expect from two fiery fighters. But before they heated things up, the audience witnessed a spat erupt between Benavidez and Morrell’s manager, Luis DeCubas Sr. What made matters more intriguing were the conflicting claims over money.

At the T-Mobile Arena, the two interim light heavyweight champions will finally settle who could potentially face the winner of the Artur Beterbiev–Dmitry Bivol rematch. Fans have already seen Benavidez and Morrell hyping up their fight with high-octane exchanges. It often required interventions from team members and organizers to keep things from getting out of hand. After the incident, DeCubas shared his version of the story.

David Benavidez vs. Luis DeCubas Sr.

David Benavidez eyed a charged-up Luis DeCubas Sr. Morrell’s manager believed that Benavidez’s aggression stemmed more from fear than curiosity. ‘The Mexican Monster’ asked, “Who’s taking more money out of David Morrell’s check?”

Taking over from the MC, Luis DeCubas Sr. looked at Benavidez and said, “I want to thank this guy here for taking the shot, okay? A lot of guys won’t take it anymore. He had the ba**s to step up, which I got to give him credit for.” The Phoenix-born unbeaten fighter promptly responded, “I’ve got some big ba**s.”

Louis DeCubas seemed supremely confident about David Morrell’s upcoming victory. So pointing at Benavidez, he stated that the truth would become clear on Saturday. “I want to find out if you got chin; that’s what I got to find out if you got a chin,” Morrell’s manager insisted.

But the remark clearly irritated ‘El Monstruo,’ who swiftly changed the subject to money. “You’re taking more money than Morrell…” said Benavidez. DeCubas fired back, asserting that Morrell clearly knows what he’s making.

This exchange only provoked a challenge from Benavidez: “I’m exposing this.” The back-and-forth continued for a while. Escalating tension prompted the organizers to intervene and cool things down. Later, DeCubas shared his side of the story with Fight Hub TV’s Marcus Hayes.

That approach won’t be effective

The veteran manager emphasized that he and his team wouldn’t be intimidated by such ‘bullying stuff.’ Criticizing Benavidez’s camp for hypocrisy, he dismissed the accusations regarding VADA testing. DeCubas asserted that Morrell’s team had been proactive in signing up for the testing. “He’s talking about us not doing VADA, and now he gets here and he starts on the money,” said Luis DeCubas Sr.

DeCubas also defended Morrell and his promoter, Al Haymon. He pointed out the financial transparency and fairness Haymon offers to his fighters, unlike other promoters who take a larger percentage. “First of all, there’s federal laws; there’s Muhammad Ali laws, okay, where the fighters got to get disclosed what everybody’s making,” he clarified.

According to Luis DeCubas Sr., Benavidez was unnecessarily trying to get into Morrell’s head by discussing irrelevant matters and using mind games. When an opponent focuses on non-fighting issues, it’s a clear sign they’re afraid. Drawing from his experience with world champions, DeCubas contended.

Though short-lived, the exchange shed light on one of the least discussed yet always present aspects of boxing: the business of money-making.

What do you think? Should such intricate matters have been brought out in the open?