David Morrell maintained his position as one of the sport’s most promising up-and-coming prospects and potential future stars by soundly outboxing and stopping Alantez Fox.
Morrell (6-0, 5 KOs) dominated Fox (28-3-1, 13 KOs) from the onset with matrix-like movements, sniper-straight left hands and crushing combinations en route to a fourth-round technical knockout victory Saturday at The Armory in Minneapolis, the 23-year-old Cuban’s adopted hometown. Morrell retained his secondary WBA “regular” super middleweight belt for his efforts. The fight was televised as a PBC on FOX main event.
After establishing himself early, Morrell finally dropped Fox in the fourth with a short left hook. Fox had been hit with big punches previous to that. After another strong flurry featuring hooks and uppercuts, Fox’s trainer and father Troy stepped onto the ring apron and called a stop to the action as his son was being battered on the ropes. Referee Mark Nelson obliged and waved off the fight with 54 seconds remaining in the round.
Morrell landed 10 punches in the first and 11 each in the second and third before kicking it into second gear by landing 21 punches in the fourth. Morrell landed 53 of his 156 shots overall – 52 of his punches were of the power variety. Fox mustered off 18 landed and 120 thrown.
Morrell was making his debut under new trainer Ronnie Shields. Although the union started last month, Morrell did not look like a confused fighter under a new coach. Shields even showed a sign of sportsmanship by throwing in the towel for Fox from the opposite corner to get the attention of Nelson since Troy did not do so himself.
Morrell picked up the secondary version of the 168-pound WBA title he currently possesses by unanimously decisioning Lennox Allen in 2020. Canelo Alvarez is universally recognized as the undisputed champion at 168 pounds. In his last fight, Morrell made quick work of Julio César Chávez Jr. conqueror Mario Abel Cazares with a first-round knockout.
Morrell relocated to Minneapolis prior to turning pro in 2019. The southpaw made his pro debut in his adopted hometown at The Armory, where he has now fought three times.
For Fox, it marks the third time he's fallen short whenever he's stepped it up in competition. His previous losses came to Demetrius Andrade in 2017 and Liam Williams in 2019.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com
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