Morrell To Fight In May; Opponent TBA

[kiaba360]

I’m hoping Morrell has a better than average work ethic. It’s hard as hell to make it as a fighter, it’s even harder to become a star — much harder. Very few fans appreciate any of it. If David wants to be special, he’ll do the things like learn to speak English. He can’t rely on his handlers to make all the moves; he has to insist they get him regular fights — quality fights. I’m a student of human performance, high achievers. I love to observe someone reach the heights, learn from and be inspired by them. Floyd gets a lot of hate around here, but his incredible drive and work ethic earns him great respect in my mind. A guy like Morrell (and we’ve seen countless like him) has a tendency to rely too much on his natural ability. He’ll train just enough to get by. It’s just a job. At the top, everyone is talented. Work ethic separates the elite from the merely talented.

I was watching a Josh Warrington interview with George Groves, and he spoke about how his early struggles as a featherweight with no note-worthy amateur experience, sponsors or major promotional backing, and the stress that comes with gradually cultivating a fan-base from scratch and retaining them. It helped me understand how a boxer can develop different skills throughout their career that have nothing to do with throwing a punch, and also how an average work ethic will absolutely not cut it. The hunger and hustle has to be intense.

To circle back to Morrell, I wonder if he has the necessary amount of hunger/hustle in him...if his current situation has already turned him a bit complacent. Morrell had some hype around him from the beginning, and he's backed by a notable platform (PBC/SHO). I'm also going to assume that he's already a 6-figure fighter...so he's already reached a point where 90% of boxers don't. When he sees his contemporaries fight and he sees how they avoid him, the competitive spirit burns....but Morrell the human being is probably content with his current lifestyle and maybe doesn't push for fights the way he needs to, or doesn't think to make certain concessions so that he's kept more active. I guess we'll see what 2024 brings for him.

[CubanGuyNYC]

I was watching a Josh Warrington interview with George Groves, and he spoke about how his early struggles as a featherweight with no note-worthy amateur experience, sponsors or major promotional backing, and the stress that comes with gradually cultivating a fan-base from scratch and retaining them. It helped me understand how a boxer can develop different skills throughout their career that have nothing to do with throwing a punch, and also how an average work ethic will absolutely not cut it. The hunger and hustle has to be intense.

To circle back to Morrell, I wonder if he has the necessary amount of hunger/hustle in him...if his current situation has already turned him a bit complacent. Morrell had some hype around him from the beginning, and he's backed by a notable platform (PBC/SHO). I'm also going to assume that he's already a 6-figure fighter...so he's already reached a point where 90% of boxers don't. When he sees his contemporaries fight and he sees how they avoid him, the competitive spirit burns....but Morrell the human being is probably content with his current lifestyle and maybe doesn't push for fights the way he needs to, or doesn't think to make certain concessions so that he's kept more active. I guess we'll see what 2024 brings for him.

Yeah, bro, the top people in every field didn’t roll out of bed that way. They grinded, year after year. The true elites, like Kobe, like Floyd, worked like madmen to get to where they arrived. Guys like that make the “typical” champion pale in comparison. Boxing is really terrible that way. There’s very little room at the top. A handful of fighters make the vast majority of the money. If you make it as a pro in baseball, you can be relatively mediocre and make millions. In boxing, relatively mediocre means you have to work a day job. You’re a gatekeeper at best.

Your assessment of Morrell sounds about right. I hate to make generalizations, but success to a Cuban-born athlete and to an American-born athlete are two different things. In my experience, Cubans become instantly content merely touching on free shores. Anything is better than that hellhole they just left. You throw in a few hundred K and minor celebrityhood and the end is often near. I’m hoping Morrell bucks the trend and does something special with his talents. Right now, the jury’s still out. The kid looks good but, as you noted, it’s his heart outside the ring that will ultimately determine his success in the game.

[Eff Pandas]

Cruz has great skills, but he appears to lack power. Unless you’re Sweet Pea, I don’t see that combination making anyone very marketable these days — especially if they don’t speak English. Maybe Andy has a real warrior spirit — that would be a true selling asset — but guys like him tend not to, as they’re not used to getting into firefights. Morrell has much greater upside, in my opinion, especially if he gets Canelo fight exposure. David is a destroyer (so far), and he’s a fairly good-looking kid.

And, BTW, De Cubas made that announcement yesterday. No apparent opponent rumors yet.

Its looking like his power isn't really all that so far, but I do think hes growing as a pro more with each fight & when he sits down on his punches more he hurts guys. So I'm not fully sold he can't be more of a KO guy. I thought he had the last guy hurt nice 3x-5x iirc & if not for that opps ability to hold/hang on at the right time I think that coulda easily been a stoppage so I'm not holding that one against him too much. His killer instinct needs work to I'd argue cuz he seems perfectly happy to win a decison still. But yea if hes 6-0 (2) in 12mos its not a great sign for his chances of becoming a draw.

Morrell has more upside just on his age alone. Cruz needs to make a move quick. And Morrell isn't even in his physical prime yet. If boxers were stocks I'd have more money in Morrell.

[Eff Pandas]

He needs to systematically chop down the WBA's top 15:

Edgar Berlanga

Christian Mbilli

Erik Bazinyan

Uwel Hernandez

Bektemir Melikuziev

Caleb Plant

Pablo Corzo

Luis J Rodriguez

Bek Nurmaganbet

Trevor McCumby

Diego Pacheco

Simon Zachenhuber

Pavel Silyagin

Ernesbadi Begue

Callum Simpson

If his team can't get him consistent fights, then they need to appeal the WBA to make them mandatory for Canelo. If that doesn't work, then Morrell needs to find a team who CAN help him.

Sounds like he's fighting Bek the Bully next (from what another NSB thread is saying) which is a nice step up from his last several opps & the level of guy I've been wanting to see him in with for a few fights now.

Bek isn't top ten indie ranked, but I'd bet if we could see the voting for TBRB or Ring Bek would probably be a top 15ish guy on the verge of the top ten. I'm looking forward to this one if it ends up being officially the next guy for Morrell.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Morrell has more upside just on his age alone. Cruz needs to make a move quick. And Morrell isn't even in his physical prime yet. If boxers were stocks I'd have more money in Morrell.

Lol Couldn’t agree more. Cruz is fun to watch — for me, at least — but David has a style and presence that’s more marketable to the fans. And you’re right: the kid isn’t even in his prime yet. As long as he doesn’t get lazy or too full of himself, he promises to have a good career.

[_Jordan_]

Hes dangerous but has a very poor won/loss record.

His opponents Total is 188-21, only better than him was Lomachenko in history, imagine David Benavides first 10 opponents Total was 31-54, in his 11th fight he fought an opponent with 11 losses and no wins, Morrell in his third fight fought WBA # 1 ranked Lennox Allen(22-0) and then the one who became # 1 Aidos Yerbossynuly(16-0) Morrel Opponents Win/Loss ratio is best in the sport

[_Jordan_]

He needs to systematically chop down the WBA's top 15:

Edgar Berlanga

Christian Mbilli

Erik Bazinyan

Uwel Hernandez

Bektemir Melikuziev

Caleb Plant

Pablo Corzo

Luis J Rodriguez

Bek Nurmaganbet

Trevor McCumby

Diego Pacheco

Simon Zachenhuber

Pavel Silyagin

Ernesbadi Begue

Callum Simpson

If his team can't get him consistent fights, then they need to appeal the WBA to make them mandatory for Canelo. If that doesn't work, then Morrell needs to find a team who CAN help him.

100% brother but nothing would change, if people didn't know Lennox Allen, Aidos Yerbossynuly or Zena Adbeko what makes you think they would know

Erik Bazinyan

Uwel Hernandez

Bektemir Melikuziev

[kiaba360]

100% brother but nothing would change, if people didn't know Lennox Allen, Aidos Yerbossynuly or Zena Adbeko what makes you think they would know

Erik Bazinyan

Uwel Hernandez

Bektemir Melikuziev

Bek is one of the few names on the WBA list that I recognize, and I watch a decent amount of boxing. It's actually a good match-up because Bek comes to fight. We should expect Morrell to showcase more of his skillset against Bek.

[Eff Pandas]

His opponents Total is 188-21, only better than him was Lomachenko in history, imagine David Benavides first 10 opponents Total was 31-54, in his 11th fight he fought an opponent with 11 losses and no wins, Morrell in his third fight fought WBA # 1 ranked Lennox Allen(22-0) and then the one who became # 1 Aidos Yerbossynuly(16-0) Morrel Opponents Win/Loss ratio is best in the sport

You must be a newer fan if you value records over quality opps. I was more impressed with sexy records when I was newer to boxing too, but a record is only as good as who you beat is the thing.

And look Morrell is clearly a bad mfer, but **** measuring him vs Benavidez years ago when he was a teenager means nothing today when Morrell is in his mid 20s. Morrell is one year younger than Benavidez but more than a year behind him in accomplishments still. It is what it is.

[Eff Pandas]

100% brother but nothing would change, if people didn't know Lennox Allen, Aidos Yerbossynuly or Zena Adbeko what makes you think they would know

Erik Bazinyan

Uwel Hernandez

Bektemir Melikuziev

If ppl here don't know Bek the bully, Morrell's next & best opp by a mile, they don't follow boxing much. This is a great fight for Morrell, assuming the rumor is correct, & the level I've been wanting to see him fight at for a few fights now.

Erik B is a ok prospect himself & I'm sure many here know him & seen him fight.

And in fairness with the Uwel guy idk about him so that opp would have been a meh selection like Morrell's last few opps have been when hes already proven he can compete vs better guys.