Who should Morrell fight if not Benavidez or Canelo right now?

[El_Mero]

Plant, Charlo or any of them other Euros Saul fought that were considered GREAT WINS by his fans

[garfios]

Anyone who's done more than the guys he fought is some sort of learning exp. And look the division is the division. You can't fight guys that don't exist in this thin division. Right now David M has largely been fighting guys UNDER him in exp & skill. And he's not gonna find many guys who compete with him on the skill level so he needs to focus on guys with more exp. For where David M is at, top 5 in virtually all indie rankings I see, that puts his primary opp to rise him up more being other top 10 guys, guys who've held 168 belts, guys who've held belts in other div's who are now at 168, guys who's fought for belts at 168, guys who've fought for belts at other divs who are now at 168. In that order. Fighting these guys like Sena & Aidos who've done less than him & have less skills then him isn't doing a lot for him anymore in exp or exposure.

This is honestly a similar place David B was at awhile back when he was fighting Kyrone Davis, who was a bs nothing fight for him. His best opp up til then was probably Dirrell or Gavril (who are STILL better guys then David M has fought thus far). David B then fought an ex-belt guy, Lemieux, a top ten guy, Plant & a top ten guy, Andrade. David M needs to try to move like David M moved in the last ~18mos. He can hope a top two guys gives him a shot or he can get to a position, like David B is now, where the guy above him HAS to fight him or its an awful look for them.

I'm not invested much in guys wanting to fight top guys. EVERYONE who's on a high level wants to fight top guys. Whether they can hang right now or not they should want that. So it doesn't mean much to me & it'd say more to me, in a negative light, when a high level guy from 0-0 or 30-0 doesn't wanna fight a top guy. What I pay attention to more is how they move to get to fight those top guys where they've earned those top guy fights. And while David M, as a top ten level guy, deserves to fight anyone at the weight now, I'd argue he still needs to earn the top guy fights with his upside for the guys he'll fight. He's in the same position as Errol when Keef was the belt holder. David B has been in this position with trying to get the biggest name in the game or Plant to fight him a year-ish ago. He's in the same position as Boots with fighting top guys at 147 today. He's where a guy like Andy is gonna be soon at 135 with how good he's looking & how skilled he is. David M isn't on some island by himself. Plenty of guys have been in his position in the past & are in his position & will be in his position. And fighting top 50 guys, like he's been doing for awhile now, isn't gonna move him into a position where he's The Guy to fight for the top guys til more non-hardcore fans gaf about him fighting those top guys.

I agreed, the only part I don't is "earn", the boxing world is full of "undeserving" boxers winning the lottery ticket, and Morrell jr is not looking yet for that ticket, he wants the top dog so he can claim the prize, or be the lottery himself. Thanks again for been soo thoroughly in your explanation. Happy Holidays and be safe.

[Eff Pandas]

I agreed, the only part I don't is "earn", the boxing world is full of "undeserving" boxers winning the lottery ticket, and Morrell jr is not looking yet for that ticket, he wants the top dog so he can claim the prize, or be the lottery himself. Thanks again for been soo thoroughly in your explanation. Happy Holidays and be safe.

This has been a reality for a long time. Well before David M was born let alone since he's been pro. I'd LOVE it if boxing was about the sport over the business, but its not.

And the thing is not unlike how Errol went from the avoided guy at 147 to the guy milking the biggest fights for as much as he could it wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world if in 5yrs David M is the guy who's #1 at 168 & there is some new promising guy he has no reason to fight yet. You are never gonna be able to fight everyone that wants to fight you as you get higher & higher in boxing.

[kiaba360]

That fight should be great, but only hardcore knows who they're. The only name in the division that I can think of is plant, still in his prime, good boxer and some casuals has heard of him or saw his fight with ginger.

Plant is gonna go after Jermall though, for the same reason Benavidez went after Andrade. I don't foresee Plant/Morrell happening next.

[garfios]

This has been a reality for a long time. Well before David M was born let alone since he's been pro. I'd LOVE it if boxing was about the sport over the business, but its not.

And the thing is not unlike how Errol went from the avoided guy at 147 to the guy milking the biggest fights for as much as he could it wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world if in 5yrs David M is the guy who's #1 at 168 & there is some new promising guy he has no reason to fight yet. You are never gonna be able to fight everyone that wants to fight you as you get higher & higher in boxing.

Amen...

[kiaba360]

This has been a reality for a long time. Well before David M was born let alone since he's been pro. I'd LOVE it if boxing was about the sport over the business, but its not.

And the thing is not unlike how Errol went from the avoided guy at 147 to the guy milking the biggest fights for as much as he could it wouldn't be the weirdest thing in the world if in 5yrs David M is the guy who's #1 at 168 & there is some new promising guy he has no reason to fight yet. You are never gonna be able to fight everyone that wants to fight you as you get higher & higher in boxing.

The Cubans typically aren't active enough to build the profile necessary to get in this position. Morrell has a better chance because he's young, but if he becomes a true star, it won't be until his 30's because he may get avoided until then. Morrell's discipline/patience will be tested. He can't take any opponent lightly, and needs to treat every fight like a title fight. If Dirrell is all he can get, then take it with both hands. Show everyone why Dirrell doesn't belong in the ring with you. And do the same to the next guy and the next...until the top guys cannot avoid you any longer. Morrell needs to make sure he uses any anger/resentment as fuel and rather than letting it destroy him.

[CubanGuyNYC]

The Cubans typically aren't active enough to build the profile necessary to get in this position. Morrell has a better chance because he's young, but if he becomes a true star, it won't be until his 30's because he may get avoided until then. Morrell's discipline/patience will be tested. He can't take any opponent lightly, and needs to treat every fight like a title fight. If Dirrell is all he can get, then take it with both hands. Show everyone why Dirrell doesn't belong in the ring with you. And do the same to the next guy and the next...until the top guys cannot avoid you any longer.

We saw this recently with Robeisy Ramirez. I’m not trying to say he took Espinoza lightly, but it goes to show, once again, that’s it’s boxing — anything can happen. To come into the ring and give it your all every time out, for years, requires a certain mental toughness. One lapse and a lesser light can steal your thunder. Makes you appreciate the greats of the sport — of any sport.

[crimsonfalcon07]

A lot of those guys you want him to fight have already declined to fight him. Like Ryder, for instance. And Christian Mbilli would have gotten the call to fight him already by the WBA per their rules on at least a couple of occasions. They offer fights to their top ranked guys in order and it goes down the list. He doesn't arrive at Agbeko without Mbilli getting an offer. Guys like Saunders would rather take another route and fight a rando for a vacant belt of some sort.

I'm going to keep saying it. Who would you bet on to beat him at 168, besides Canelo and Benavidez? Anyone willing to commit to a name? Nobody is willing to commit to a name because they know what they're not willing to say... He's a tough out for anyone, and the risk/reward just isn't there for the top dogs. Especially when Canelo is giving unearned shots to the guys like Ryder who duck him.

[kiaba360]

We saw this recently with Robeisy Ramirez. I’m not trying to say he took Espinoza lightly, but it goes to show, once again, that’s it’s boxing — anything can happen. To come into the ring and give it your all every time out, for years, requires a certain mental toughness. One lapse and a lesser light can steal your thunder. Makes you appreciate the greats of the sport — of any sport.

Morrell needs to start developing good habits now, while he's in his 20s. He needs to live like an athlete, day in day out. Look at all the PBC fighters around you and learn from their mistakes: don't get in trouble with the law, refrain from drug use, don't blow up in weight, etc. Longevity requires a lot of luck too, but Morrell's choices will improve or harm his longevity. If PBC isn't keeping him as active as he wants or isn't giving him the opponents he seeks, then go somewhere else. Morrell cannot allow himself to become complacent.

[Eff Pandas]

The Cubans typically aren't active enough to build the profile necessary to get in this position. Morrell has a better chance because he's young, but if he becomes a true star, it won't be until his 30's because he may get avoided until then. Morrell's discipline/patience will be tested. He can't take any opponent lightly, and needs to treat every fight like a title fight. If Dirrell is all he can get, then take it with both hands. Show everyone why Dirrell doesn't belong in the ring with you. And do the same to the next guy and the next...until the top guys cannot avoid you any longer. Morrell needs to make sure he uses any anger/resentment as fuel and rather than letting it destroy him.

Him being #1 at 168 ain't wild. And as to the nationality angle I think ANYONE trying to be big in the US who's not from the US or Hispanic (ideally Mexican, but PR works too) has a rough & uphill battle they will likely lose at becoming a legit MGM Grand, MSG, Dubai Main Event PPV type guy. Really the only two who've done it in recent times is Manny & GGG. So I think its less about activity, everyone is less active these days, & more about the issues with getting fans wanting you as "Their Guy". The first thing I'd be doing if I was with Team David M is getting him talking English as well as a college professor as not speaking English is one of the big hurdles with getting mass popularity in the US. Thats a whole other debate tho.

Agree with the can't avoid you part tho. I keep saying I believe David B was in a very similar position as David M now not long ago & David B made a great blueprint to follow to get to the You Gotta Fight Me Now or Look Like a Douchbag point with Alvarez that he's in now.