Fighter of the Week: (4/17-4/23) David Morrell
On the biggest fight weekend of the calendar year, two major cards captured the attention of the boxing world, on both sides of the Atlantic. It was not one of the main event fighters who captured our Fighter of the Week Award. It was a name that we had Tweeted was the best fighter on the Davis-Garcia card just moments before his ring walk. David Morrell, the unbeaten super middleweight from Santa Clara, has not been seriously tested yet. Saturday night against Yamaguchi Falcao of Brazil was no exception. Morrell absolutely annihilated the Brazilian in less than one round to move his record to 9-0 (8), defend his version of the WBA 168-pound strap, make a statement to the top names in the weight class, and take home the Fighter of the Week Award.
David Morrell has been on boxing's fast track like very few others are, and he has not failed to meet and exceed those vast expectations. Morrell saved his best performance for his biggest stage so far. The Cuban scored yet another posterizing knockout on the undercard of Davis-Garcia. The right hand was the story of the night. A right hand in the opening moments sent Falcao reeling into the ropes. While Falcao was slung in the ropes, another big right resulted in the first knockdown. The Brazilian managed to beat the count. However, it was clear as day his time was limited, and his legs were spaghetti. Morrell scored with another brutal right flush on Falcao's chin. The right landed with such velocity and force, it face-planted Falcao in spectacular fashion and sent in referee Celestino Ruiz to wave off the bout without a count.
In just nine professional bouts Morrell has long established himself as more than a prospect or an up-and-comer. He has arrived and very well may be the best 168-pounder in the world. A stacked division that features Canelo and Benavidez. None of those guys, those million-dollar PPV stars, may have the ability to deal with the unbeaten Cuban. Morrell certainly will look for one of those big names next. A showdown with the biggest name in the sport, Canelo may have to wait a bit. The other names like David Benavidez or Caleb Plant, are easily makeable and could be next. Also on the table are fights with Jermall Charlo if he decides to move up, as is former two-division world champ Demetrius Andrade. Any of those names will be a solid test. A win there will show Morrell belongs at the very top of that division.
