Light heavyweight David Morrell Jnr claimed a narrow split decision win over Imam Khataev on Saturday at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City.

Both combatants landed 171 punches, but Khataev held a 129-97 edge in power punches landed and a 63-22 edge in body punches landed. Khataev also scored the fight’s lone knockdown in the closing seconds of the fifth round – the first time Morrell had to climb off the canvas in his career. Morrell and Khataev were separated by four or fewer landed punches in six of the 10 rounds.