FIGHT WEEK
Former Cuban amateur star David Morrell returns on day after Christmas on FOX.
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DAVID MORRELL (3-0, 2 KOs)
VS. MIKE GAVRONSKI (26-3-1, 16 KOs)
- When: Saturday, Dec. 26
- Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
- TV/Stream: FOX
- Division: Super middleweight
- At stake: Morrell’s WBC “interim” title
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: NA
- Also on the card: James Kirkland vs. Juan Macias Montiel, 10 rounds, middleweights; Jesus Alejandro Ramos vs. Naim Nelson, 10 rounds welterweights
- Prediction: Morrell KO 5
- Background: Morrell is on a fast track to a title shot. And why not? The former youth star from Cuba – who reportedly finished with an amateur record of 130-2 – is naturally gifted and has polished skills, courtesy of the Cuban amateur system. And, although his professional sample is small, he also seems to have heavy hands. The 22-year-old resident of Minneapolis won the “interim” title by nearly shutting out then-unbeaten Lennox Allen on Aug. 8 in Los Angeles. Morrell presumably is in line to challenge new WBA 168-pound titleholder Canelo Alvarez, although he doesn’t appear to be in Alvarez’s immediate plans. Gavronski is a solid veteran at best. He has a victory over an older version of Brian Vera but has lost his biggest fights, to Tureano Johnson (UD) and Jesse Hart (TKO 3). He has won two fights since the setback against Hart. The resident of Lockport, Ill., will come to fight but the wide gap in ability should become evident quickly. Also, one-time contender James Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) continues his comeback after a four-year hiatus against Juan Macias Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout. Kirkland has stopped two second-tier opponents in his return last year. He hadn’t fought since Alvarez famously stopped him in three rounds in 2015. The Texan is known for his unusual aggression and punching power, as well as his vulnerability. Montiel is coming off a solid performance in a draw with Hugo Centeno Jr. a year ago.
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OTHER SIGNIFICANT MATCHUPS
Saturday, Dec. 26
- Masayuki Ito (26-2-1, 14 KOs) vs. Hironori Mishiro (9-0-1, 3 KOs), 10 rounds lightweights, Tokyo: Ito is fighting for the second time since losing his title to Jamel Herring by a wide decision in May of last year. He is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Ruben Manakane 15 months ago. Mishiro last fought in December of last year, when he defeated Yoshimitsu Kimura by a split decision.