David Morrell has a chance to position himself for an undisputed light heavyweight championship fight if he secures a victory against Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic on August 3rd at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. This bout marks Morrell’s debut at 175 pounds, moving up from 168, where he was notably avoided by top fighters.
Morrell and Kalajdzic will be fighting for the vacant WBA light heavyweight title in a 12-round contest on ESPN+ PPV and the winner of this bout could potentially face the victor of the upcoming clash between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship. Alongside Morrell, WBC interim 175-lb champion David Benavidez is also vying for the opportunity to fight the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
David Benavidez made his debut at 175 pounds against former WBC light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk on June 15, but his performance was underwhelming. Benavidez struggled to a lackluster twelve-round unanimous decision, showing limitations in power and stamina at the higher weight class. This raised questions about whether 175 pounds is the right weight class for him, potentially making Morrell a more appealing contender for the next big fight in the division.
Watch Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk highlights: Watch
David Morrell's move to 175 pounds might be a game-changer, thanks to his power, technical skills, stamina, and ruggedness. A strong showing against Kalajdzic could impress key figures in boxing, including His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, and set up Morrell for a fight against the Bivol-Beterbiev winner.
Promoter Eddie Hearn expressed high regard for Morrell, highlighting his potential and the significance of his upcoming fight.
"David Morrell, I think he’s pound-for-pound quality, and I think everyone in boxing knows how good he is. He’s probably vastly avoided," Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.
Image Credit: DAZN