David Morrell Jr. lets rip at Canelo Alvarez over Edgar Berlanga fight
Jul 31, 2024 • 4:30 PM ET
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Talk about not pulling punches…
In addition to the more high-profile exodus of David Benavidez from 168 pounds to light-heavyweight, unbeaten Cuban left-hander David Morrell followed by fleeing the division for a light-heavyweight debut Saturday night on the star-studded Los Angeles card.
On Tuesday, when he was asked what he thought about former undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez bypassing both Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) and Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) in favor of a Sept. 14 date against the far-more-lightly regarded Edgar Berlanga, Morrell delivered honesty.
“Man, this fight’s bullshit. Everybody knows. I don’t want any more questions about this fight. It’s crazy,” Morrell said.
The 26-year-old Morrell was assigned Serbia’s Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs) for a World Boxing Association secondary light-heavyweight title.
Morrell also took note that Alvarez was stripped of his International Boxing Federation belt last week rather than fighting his mandatory opponent, Morrell’s countryman William Scull, who has been ordered to fight Russia’s Vladimir Shishkin.
“It’s a business. Canelo (left) two Cuban guys at 168, and before that (he balked at) Benavidez,” Morrell said. “Berlanga is easy for him. Before, he brought (154-pound champion Jermell) Charlo to 168, too. Everybody’s here. I’m not talking shit. Everything’s here. For me, this fight’s bullshit.”
Asked if he feels Alvarez is “ducking” Benavidez, Morrell said, “Of course. Benavidez is a great fighter. He’s strong. He’s not a safe (choice). So…”
Morrell said he’s intrigued in fighting Benavidez or whoever emerges from the Oct. 12 undisputed light-heavyweight championship bout between unbeaten Russians Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol.
Asked if he also wanted a Canelo fight, he rolled his eyes and laughed in an expression indicating he’s not expecting that fight any time soon.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
