WBA Regular champion David Morrell is a fighter fans are sleeping on
While the world awaits the undisputed super middleweight showdown between unified champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and IBF champion Caleb “Sweethands” Plant, WBA ‘regular’ champion David Morrell (5-0, 4ko) has gone under the radar with most boxing fans. The 23-year-old Cuban southpaw is an exciting fighter blessed with good speed, balance, ring IQ, and power. He grew up in the vaunted Cuban school of boxing. This explains why he has been on the fast track since turning professional back in 2019.
FROM AMATEUR TO PROFESSIONAL, TO BEING A CHAMPION
Morrell was a standout in the amateur boxing system with a supposed record of 135-2. He also won a gold medal in both the 2016 Youth World Championships and the 2017 Cuban National Championships as a light heavyweight.
Accomplishments like these are probably why his handlers have been moving him pretty quickly. He has only fought one fighter with a losing record, and his remaining opponents have a combined record of 77-4. During the 2020 global pandemic, the young Cuban fought twice. He was able to capture the WBA interim title against then-undefeated Lennox Allen.
Morrell easily won the fight in his first twelve-round contest. More impressively, it was his third professional fight. Moreover, his victory would pay off in a big way as he was elevated from Interim champion to full ‘regular’ champion status in 2021.
In 2021, fighting in front of his adopted hometown crowd in Minneapolis, Morrell made the first successful defense of his newly acquired championship. He knocked out undefeated, rough Mexican fighter Mario Abel Cazares in the first round in spectacular fashion.
CAN HE COMPETE WITH THE BIG DOGS
David Morrell is in a tough spot in the super middleweight division. It is obvious he can defeat the lower tier fighters, but can he compete on the elite level? It is safe to say a fight with boxing’s mega-star Canelo Alvarez is out of the question. However, a fight with fellow Premier Boxing Champions stablemate and former WBC champions David Benavidez, or Anthony Dirrell can be entertained.
Then other fights can be arranged like two-divisional champion Daniel “The Miracle Man” Jacobs, and former world champion David Lemieux. These match-ups would bring fans to the arena, also.
Some boxing fans have mentioned wanting to see him fight undefeated hard-punching prospect Edgar Berlanga. However, he did not look impressive in his last outing, so it is highly unlikely the brass at Top Rank are willing to make that move just yet.
As of right now, Morrell is the most talented best-kept secret in boxing, and going into 2022, it will be interesting to see if that will be his breakout year.
By: Garrisson Bland
