David Morrell Aims to Come Back December 21st at the Armory in Minneapolis

David Morrell fights on December 21 at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in what will be the first defense of his WBA ‘standard’ light heavyweight title against an opponent yet to be determined.

Morrell, 26, captured a second WBA 175-lb belt earlier this month, defeating Radivoje ‘Hot Rod’ Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs) via a 12-round unanimous decision on August 3 at BMO Stadium in Las Vegas.

Screaming ‘Mexican Beast’

A Boxing source reports that Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) plans to fight on December 21. There is currently no word on who Morrell will defend. He recently called out David Benavidez again, telling fans he wants to beat the ‘Mexican Monster.’ Morrell’s victory over Benavidez will set him up as the WBC’s tiebreaker for the October 12 fight between light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

“I want Benavidez. “Everybody knows he is, and I want to show everybody that I’m the best at 175,” Morrell said. “Everybody says he’s a bogeyman, but I am.”

That was the Cuban talent Morrell debuted at 175, and he looked good. He hurt Kalajdzic multiple times en route to a 17-111, 117-111, and 118-110 win. He would have finished Kalajdzic if he had combined his fists to connect because he would have been stopped.

Adapting to a New Weight Class

The fight showed that Morrell needed to change his fighting style, focusing more on combination strikes and one-shot throwing lessons. At 168, Morrell’s power was good enough to hurt his opponents with one shot and finish them with consecutive short bursts. That style won’t work for him at 175. He needs to be relentless, like Beterbiev, to get the knockouts.

Morrell needs a good opponent for his fight on December 21. Anthony Yarde, Lyndon Arthur, Ben Whitaker, Willy Hutchinson, or Alberto Ramirez could suit him. If Benavidez won’t take the trash, one of those fighters would be good for Morrell.