While Cuban light heavyweight David Morrell Jnr is in England on business this weekend, he has no qualms about making return trips for more of the same.
Morrell had been due to face Callum Smith in a mouth-watering fight in Liverpool last month. But Smith withdrew with an undisclosed injury and Morrell now fights in Manchester, at the Co-op Live Arena, on Saturday against Zak Chelli.
“I wasn’t too familiar with Zak,” the 12-1 (9 KOs) Cuban southpaw admitted. “We got familiar with him once his name got brought up as a possible opponent. We’ve seen some films here and there and watched some highlights but by the time the fight comes I will know his every move.”
Chelli is relishing the opportunity, but Morrell says he quickly shrugged off the disappointment of the Smith fight falling through and the Liverpool man very much remains on his radar.
“I felt a little down. I wasn’t sad or depressed or anything like that, I was disappointed,” Morrell explained. “But I’m a fighter, I kept training, relied on my team to stay focused and I know everything happens for a reason. I definitely expect the [Smith] fight to be scheduled later in the year.”
And Smith and Chelli are not the only UK opponents Morrell has in his crosshairs.
After Smith’s pull-out, Morrell and his team tried to tease new Matchroom signing Ben Whittaker into the main event against him. While that was not achieved, Morrell is more than open to a fight with the showman from the Midlands.
“Absolutely, I think there could be a fight down the line,” Morrell added. “I think it makes a lot of sense. We’re pretty much around the same age, he’s a good fighter, he’s got good qualities and he’s a quality fighter. That could be a great, big fight down the line.”
Asked what he thought of Whittaker’s in-ring antics, Morrell replied: “I invented that, he won’t be able to do that against me. In Cuba, we invented that flashiness and those antics. I respect every fighter that gets in that ring but there are different levels and the fighters he is doing that to and getting away with it against are not on Whittaker’s level and they’re not on my level. And that was clear in his last fight. He won’t be able to do that against someone like me.”
Are he and Whittaker the future of the division?
“Maybe. I don’t know about him but I’m at that level,” Morrell smiled.
Morrell has already tested himself against David Benavidez, losing a decision in Las Vegas last year. That came in between hard fights against Radivoje Kaladjdzic and Imam Khataev and remains the only loss Morrell has suffered as a professional. But the Cuban took something from all three big fights and he is more than happy with how briskly he has been moved into significant fights.
“I’m a hundred per cent happy with the way my career has moved,” he said. “I definitely understand fighters haven’t been able to do that [move as quickly], but I’m proud of that and I’m happy with the way my career has gone and where it’s going. In my third fight, I fought for the WBA title and by my 11th fight I was fighting Benavidez. I haven’t been taken out of the fire.
“I’ve learned a lot and I benefitted a lot from those three fights. The first thing was adjusting to the weight at 175. You saw how tough those fights were. Hot Rod [Kaladjdzic] was my first fight at ’75 so that was the first thing I adjusted. Then also, coming out of those fights, I learned how important it was to stay focused to fight at that level. The focus through the fight is important, to stay cool, stick to your game plan and not get into your emotions.”
The knock on many Cuban pros who excelled as amateurs is that they have been dizzied by the bright lights and tempted into a life away from the dedication required to cut it as a professional prizefighter.
Morrell grins at the suggestion.
“I believe in balance,” he said. “When it’s time to work, it’s time to work. When I’m relaxing with the family, I like to do that. I’m a young man, but when it’s time to focus I work hard and stay focused, and when it’s time to have fun, that’s what I do.”
