Tag: David Morrell

Fight Week: Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev, Gilberto Ramirez and Jake Paul in action

Fight Week: Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev, Gilberto Ramirez and Jake Paul in action.

FIGHT WEEK

Naoya Inoue, Artur Beterbiev, Gilberto Ramirez, DAVId MORRELL and Jake Paul ARE ALL SCHEDULED TO FIGHT DURING A PACKED WEEK of action.

Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) vs. Alan Dipaen (12-2, 11 KOs)

  • When: Tuesday, Dec. 14
  • Where: Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium, Tokyo
  • TV/Stream: ESPN, ESPN+
  • Division: Bantamweight
  • At stake: Inoue’s IBF and WBA titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Inoue No. 3
  • Odds: Inoue 28-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Wilfredo Mendez vs. Masataka Taniguchi, strawweights (for Mendez’s WBO title)
  • Prediction: Inoue KO 4
  • Background: Inoue will be making the sixth defense of his 118-pound title. The aptly named “Monster” has consecutive knockouts of Jason Moloney (seven rounds) and Michael Dasmarinas (three) after fighting through a broken bone in his face to outpoint Nonito Donaire in November 2019. The resident of Yokohama has stopped 10 of his last 11 opponents. He has expressed an interest in unifying all four major bantamweight titles in 2022, starting with WBO beltholder John Riel Casimero. Inoue and Casimero were expected to face one another last year but the fight didn’t happen because of COVID-19. Donaire holds the WBC title. Dipaen has won six consecutive fights — all by knockout and all in his native Thailand – since he lost a split decision to Tommy Frank in England. This is an enormous step up in opposition for the 30-year-old contender from Khon Kaen.

 

Artur Beterbiev (16-0, 16 KOs) vs. Marcos Browne (24-1, 16 KOs)

  • When: Friday, Dec. 17
  • Where: Bell Centre, Montreal
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Light heavyweight
  • At stake: Beterbiev’s IBF and WBC titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Beterbiev No. 12
  • Odds: Beterbiev 8½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Marie-Eve Dicaire vs. Cynthia Lozano, junior middleweights (for vacant IBF title); Yan Pellerin vs. Francisco Rivas, cruiserweights
  • Prediction: Beterbiev KO 10
  • Background: Will Beterbiev make it 17 in a row? The imposing 36-year-old Russian is coming off a 10th-round knockout of Adam Deines this past March, his 16th stoppage in as many fights. That victory followed the most-significant triumph of his career, a 10th-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Olekesandr Gvozdyk in October 2019. Beterbiev has been mentioned as a possible opponent for super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. He also could go after another 175-pound titleholder if he gets past Browne. Dmitry Bivol is the WBA belterholder. WBO champ Joe Smith Jr. defends against Callum Smith next month. Browne is no pushover. The 2012 U.S. Olympian from New Jersey is a polished boxer with good power. He had a break through in January 2019, when he defeated respected contender Badou Jack by a convincing decision. He lost an eight-round technical decision to Jean Pascal in his subsequent fight, the result of a cut above Browne’s eye that was caused by an accidental head butt. He rebounded to shut out Denis Grachev this past April.

 

Jake Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) vs. Tyron Woodley (0-1, 0 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Cruiserweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Paul 2-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Amanda Serrano vs. Miriam Gutierrez, lightweights; Deron Williams vs. Frank Gore, heavyweights; Liam Paro vs. Yomar Alamo, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Paul UD
  • Background: Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, was fortunate to have defeated Woodley by a split decision in August yet has agreed to face the former MMA star a second time after Tommy Fury pulled out as his opponent. Paul blasted out his first three opponents, Ali Eson Gib (TKO 1), Nate Robinson (KO 2) and Ben Askren (TKO 1), but the newbie had difficulty with Woodley’s solid striking ability and experience. Woodley, 39, made his pro boxing debut in that fight. Seven-division titleholder Amanda Serrano (41-1-1, 30 KOs) is the most-accomplished fighter on the card. The unified featherweight titleholder appears to be on a collision course with undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor in what would be a huge women’s bout next year. Gutierrez shouldn’t give Serrano much trouble even though the latter is moving up from 126 pounds to 135. Gutierrez lost a near-shutout decision to Taylor in November of last year, her only fight at the elite level. And she won’t have a significant advantage in terms of natural size. Serrano has successfully moved up and down in weight, including a stint as a 140-pound titleholder.

 

Joseph Parker (29-2, 21 KOs) vs. Derek Chisora (32-11, 23 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Parker 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Carlos Gongora vs. Lerrone Richards, super middleweights; Lee McGregor vs. Narek Abgaryan, bantamweights; Jack Cullen vs. Kevin Lele Sadjo, super middleweights; Zelfa Barrett vs. Bruno Tarimo, junior lightweights
  • Prediction: Parker UD
  • Background: Parker defeated Chisora by a close, split decision this past May, which resulted in an immediate rematch. Parker won the vacant WBO heavyweight title by outpointed Andy Ruiz in December 2016, successfully defended two times and then lost his belt by a wide decision against Anthony Joshua. He followed that with a decision loss to Dillian Whyte but has won his last five outings, including the victory over his opponent in this fight. Chisora, the 37-year-old longtime contender, has lost to Oleksandr Usyk and Parker back to back but gave a good account of himself in both fights, an indication that he’s trying to make the most out of the final years of his career.

 

Gilberto Ramirez (42-0, 28 KOs) vs. Yuneski Gonzalez (21-3, 17 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Light heavyweights
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Seneisa Estrada vs. Maria Santizo, strawweights (for Estrada’s WBA title); Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Rene Alvarado, junior lightweights; Marlen Esparza vs. Anabel Ortiz, flyweights (for Esparza’s WBC title); Luis Hernandez vs. Ruslan Madiyev, junior  welterweights
  • Prediction: Ramirez UD
  • Background: Ramirez’s career, which had sputtered after he moved up to the light heavyweight in 2019, is back on track. The former super middleweight titleholder stopped Alfonso Lopez in 10 rounds last December – his first fight in 20 months – and then knocked out longtime contender Sullivan Barrera in four rounds this past July to reestablish himself as a major player in the division. The 30-year-old Mexican is ranked in the Top 5 by three of the four major sanctioning bodies, which means his goal of fighting for a title in a second division is within reach. The beltholders are Artur Beterbiev (IBF and WBC), Dmitry Bivol (WBA) and Joe Smith Jr. (WBO). Gonzalez, a Cuban who lives in Florida, cut his teeth in the respected amateur system of his native country. The 36-year-old can box and he has power, as his last 12 victories have come by knockout. He has only been blown out once, when Oleksandr Gvozdyk stopped him in three rounds in April 2017. He took 3½ years off following that setback and returned to stop Guillermo Romero, Alex Theran and Tommy Karpency. He lost close decisions to Jean Pascal and Vyacheslav Shabranskyy in 2015.

 

David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) vs. Atlantez Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs)     

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 18
  • Where: The Armory, Minneapolis
  • TV/Stream: Fox
  • Division: Super middleweight
  • At stake: No titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jose Valenzuela vs. Austin Dulay, lightweights; Alberto Puello vs. Ve Shawn Owns, junior welterweights; Richardson Hitchins vs. Malik Hawkins, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Morrell KO 7
  • Background: Morrell, the former Cuban amateur star who lives in Minneapolis, is on a fast track to a title shot. He has demonstrated in his short professional career that he can box and punch. He easily outpointed previously unbeaten Lennox Allen in August of last year and then stopped Mike Gavronski in three rounds last December and Mario Cazares in one round in June. Morrell is the WBA’s “regular” titleholder, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize. He’ll be fighting for the second consecutive time in his adopted hometown. Fox, who fights out of the Washington, D.C. area, lost decisively the only two times he stepped up in class. He lost a wide decision to Demetrius Andrade at 160 pounds in 2017 and was stopped by Liam Williams in five rounds in another middleweight bout in December 2019. Fox has won his last two fights, a decision over Marcos Hernandez last December and a seventh-round knockout of Manny Woods in June.

Also fighting this week: On Tuesday, Knockout CP Freshmart (22-0, 8 KOs) of Thailand will defend his WBA strawweight title against Filipino Robert Paradero (18-1, 12 KOs) in Phuket, Thailand (No U.S. TV); on Friday, Michel Soro (35-2-1, 24 KOs) will face Israil Madrimov (7-0, 5 KOs) in a junior middleweight bout in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (DAZN).

Fight Week: Ryan Garcia’s big test against Luke Campbell

FIGHT WEEK Rising star Ryan Garcia faces his first significant test against Olympic champion Luke Campbell. *** RYAN GARCIA (20-0, 17 KOs) VS. LUKE CAMPBELL (20-3, 16 KOs) Ryan Garcia (right, against Romero Duno) is on a knockout streak. Steve …

FIGHT WEEK

Rising star Ryan Garcia faces his first significant test against Olympic champion Luke Campbell.

***

RYAN GARCIA (20-0, 17 KOs)
VS. LUKE CAMPBELL (20-3, 16 KOs)

Ryan Garcia (right, against Romero Duno) is on a knockout streak. Steve Marcus / Getty Images
  • When: Saturday, Jan. 2
  • Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Lightweight
  • At stake: WBC “Interim” title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: 3-1 (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel, junior flyweights (for Alvarado’s title); Rene Alvarado vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights; Franchon Crews Dezurn vs. Ashleigh Curry, super middleweights
  • Prediction: Garcia UD
  • Background: Garcia is popular on social media, with some 7.8 million followers on Instagram. And he’s on a roll. He has recorded knockouts in each of his last four fights, the last two in the first round. Indeed, if anyone has star power, it appears to be the product of Los Angeles. The problem is that Garcia has never been tested by a top-tier opponent, which is necessary to gauge how good he is. That’s where Luke Campbell comes in. The 2012 Olympian and two-time title challenger fits the bill. If Garcia can beat Campbell — particularly if he can do it more easily than Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko did — he will have arrived as a legitimate candidate to become a face of the sport. If he loses, well, he will have been more hype than substance. Meanwhile, this is a big opportunity for Campbell. The 33-year-old pride of Hull, England, is loaded with ability. He simply hasn’t been able to get over the hump. If he has his hand raised, he’ll be in prime position to get another shot at a world title.

***

OTHER SIGNIFICANT MATCHUPS

Thursday, Dec. 31

  • Kazuto Ioka (25-2, 14 KOs) vs. Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 KOs), 12 rounds, junior bantamweights, Tokyo. Ioka will be making the second defense of his 115-pound title against one of his most-gifted countrymen. Tanaka, 25, has already won titles in three divisions. A victory on Thursday would give him four. The fight is not on TV in the U.S.

[lawrence-related id=16687,16293,15765]

Fight Week: Ryan Garcia’s big test against Luke Campbell

FIGHT WEEK Rising star Ryan Garcia faces his first significant test against Olympic champion Luke Campbell. *** RYAN GARCIA (20-0, 17 KOs) VS. LUKE CAMPBELL (20-3, 16 KOs) Ryan Garcia (right, against Romero Duno) is on a knockout streak. Steve …

FIGHT WEEK

Rising star Ryan Garcia faces his first significant test against Olympic champion Luke Campbell.

***

RYAN GARCIA (20-0, 17 KOs)
VS. LUKE CAMPBELL (20-3, 16 KOs)

Ryan Garcia (right, against Romero Duno) is on a knockout streak. Steve Marcus / Getty Images
  • When: Saturday, Jan. 2
  • Where: American Airlines Center, Dallas
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Lightweight
  • At stake: WBC “Interim” title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: 3-1 (BetMGM)
  • Also on the card: Felix Alvarado vs. DeeJay Kriel, junior flyweights (for Alvarado’s title); Rene Alvarado vs. Roger Gutierrez, junior lightweights; Franchon Crews Dezurn vs. Ashleigh Curry, super middleweights
  • Prediction: Garcia UD
  • Background: Garcia is popular on social media, with some 7.8 million followers on Instagram. And he’s on a roll. He has recorded knockouts in each of his last four fights, the last two in the first round. Indeed, if anyone has star power, it appears to be the product of Los Angeles. The problem is that Garcia has never been tested by a top-tier opponent, which is necessary to gauge how good he is. That’s where Luke Campbell comes in. The 2012 Olympian and two-time title challenger fits the bill. If Garcia can beat Campbell — particularly if he can do it more easily than Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko did — he will have arrived as a legitimate candidate to become a face of the sport. If he loses, well, he will have been more hype than substance. Meanwhile, this is a big opportunity for Campbell. The 33-year-old pride of Hull, England, is loaded with ability. He simply hasn’t been able to get over the hump. If he has his hand raised, he’ll be in prime position to get another shot at a world title.

***

OTHER SIGNIFICANT MATCHUPS

Thursday, Dec. 31

  • Kazuto Ioka (25-2, 14 KOs) vs. Kosei Tanaka (15-0, 9 KOs), 12 rounds, junior bantamweights, Tokyo. Ioka will be making the second defense of his 115-pound title against one of his most-gifted countrymen. Tanaka, 25, has already won titles in three divisions. A victory on Thursday would give him four. The fight is not on TV in the U.S.

[lawrence-related id=16687,16293,15765]

Good, bad, worse: Boxing’s youth movement; Kirkland KO’d; RIP, Frankie

The rise of a youth movement was one of the positive things to emerge in a difficult 2020.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

David Morrell (left) is on a long list of talented young fighters. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

One positive thing I’ll remember about 2020 was the success of so many good young fighters.

I can start with the gifted Teofimo Lopez, who, at 23 years old, dethroned pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko by a convincing decision on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. It hardly ends with Lopez, though.

We saw two more young fighters with great promise on Saturday, David Morrell and Jesus Ramos.

Morrell, a 22-year-old former Cuban amateur star, destroyed overmatched Mike Gavronski en route to a third-round knockout in Los Angeles. His combination of ability and maturity beyond his years is representative of many young fighters today.

The same can be said for Jesus Ramos, who, at only 19, methodically annihilated Naim Nelson in four rounds on the same card. He has champion written over him.

And the encouraging list goes on in a sport bursting with prodigies destined to be the stars of the next generation. Among others 24 or younger to make statements this year:

  • Ryan Garcia (22), a knockout artist and social media star who is on the verge of becoming a major star.
  • Devin Haney (22), a gifted all-around fighter who already has won a title and appears to be on Lopez’s heals.
  • Shakur Stevenson (23), the former Olympian who gave up a 126-pound title and began his pursuit of another at 130.
  • David Benavidez (24), who already is a two-time 168-pound titleholder and potential foe of Canelo Alvarez.
  • Vergil Ortiz (22), who has stopped all 16 of his opponents and is poised to challenge the best 147-pounders.
  • Jaron Ennis (23), arguably the most-gifted – in terms of both ability and power – of the bunch.
  • Chris Colbert (24), a superb boxer-athlete who is on the cusp of a break-through victory.
  • Jaime Munguia (24), a bruising middleweight who won a title at 154 pounds and is getting better.
  • Edgar Berlanga (23), a super middleweight who has stopped all 16 of his opponents in the first round. Yes, you read that correctly.

This list isn’t meant to be complete. I could go on and on … and on. The intention was to demonstrate that boxing continues to produce superb all-around fighters, fighters who could’ve been successful in any era.

Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t paying attention.

***

BAD

This might be our final image of James Kirkland in the ring. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

James Kirkland had a good career. The “Mandingo Warrior” wasn’t a great fighter but, because of his fiercely aggressive style, he was one of the more entertaining boxers of his era. Arturo Gatti became a legend because of that quality.

And Kirkland was able to do it in spite of several interruptions, namely stints in jail for a variety of offenses. He won the first 27 fights of his career, 24 by knockout, to generate excitement.

Then, back in 2011, he ran into a relatively unknown Japanese fighter named Nobuhiro Ishida, who stopped Kirkland less than two minutes into the fight. Kirkland fought without trainer and motivator Ann Wolfe in that bout, which seemed to indicate that he wasn’t the same without her.

That might be true but, more important, Ishida simply exposed Kirkland’s limitations.

Six fights later he received the opportunity of his career, a date with Canelo Alvarez in Houston. Things didn’t go well for the Texan. The Mexican star put him down three times before stopping him in Round 3. It was arguably the most-spectacular knockout of Alvarez’s career.

Kirkland, determined to get his life in order, left boxing for four years after that setback. He returned last year, beat two journeymen and then agreed to fight Juan Macias Montiel on the Morrell-Gavronski card on Saturday.

It was Nobuhiro Ishida all over again. Kirkland, 36, went down three times and didn’t survive a full two minutes. The ability to take a punch is gone. So are the reflexes. It’s time to call it quits.

Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) didn’t have a extraordinary career. He never won a major title. In fact, he never beat an elite opponent, except perhaps a young Alfredo Angulo. He’s best known for being on the wrong end of a brutal knockout.

He entertained a lot folks, though. And isn’t that the most important thing to fans? Enjoy your retirement, warrior.

***

WORSE

Frankie Randall (left) was the first to beat Julio Cesar Chavez. AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana

Frankie Randall represented the best and the worst of boxing.

Randall, who died at 59 on Wednesday, is a testament to perseverance. He received his first title shot in 1994, at 32 years old and 11 years into his career. And he won the fight by decision to capture the first of his three 140-pound titles.

His opponent that night in Las Vegas? Julio Cesar Chavez.

Randall became both the first to defeat the future Hall of Famer – who was 89-0-1 going into the fight — and the first to put him down, giving the talented, durable boxer-puncher an indelible place in boxing lore.

Three-time champion, conqueror of Chavez and victories over other top fighters of the day. Randall had a lot of which to be proud.

The problem is he fought too long. He went 3-13 in his last 16 fights, the last one when he was 43 years old. In all, he fought professionally for 22 years. That might’ve contributed to his condition later in life: His son said he died after a battle with dementia and Parkinson’s.

Perhaps the two primary lessons he will have taught fighters who followed him are these: never give up when you can still fight and walk away when you can’t.

RIP, champ.

[lawrence-related id=16750,16742]

Good, bad, worse: Boxing’s youth movement; Kirkland KO’d; RIP, Frankie

The rise of a youth movement was one of the positive things to emerge in a difficult 2020.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

David Morrell (left) is on a long list of talented young fighters. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

One positive thing I’ll remember about 2020 was the success of so many good young fighters.

I can start with the gifted Teofimo Lopez, who, at 23 years old, dethroned pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko by a convincing decision on Oct. 17 in Las Vegas. It hardly ends with Lopez, though.

We saw two more young fighters with great promise on Saturday, David Morrell and Jesus Ramos.

Morrell, a 22-year-old former Cuban amateur star, destroyed overmatched Mike Gavronski en route to a third-round knockout in Los Angeles. His combination of ability and maturity beyond his years is representative of many young fighters today.

The same can be said for Jesus Ramos, who, at only 19, methodically annihilated Naim Nelson in four rounds on the same card. He has champion written over him.

And the encouraging list goes on in a sport bursting with prodigies destined to be the stars of the next generation. Among others 24 or younger to make statements this year:

  • Ryan Garcia (22), a knockout artist and social media star who is on the verge of becoming a major star.
  • Devin Haney (22), a gifted all-around fighter who already has won a title and appears to be on Lopez’s heals.
  • Shakur Stevenson (23), the former Olympian who gave up a 126-pound title and began his pursuit of another at 130.
  • David Benavidez (24), who already is a two-time 168-pound titleholder and potential foe of Canelo Alvarez.
  • Vergil Ortiz (22), who has stopped all 16 of his opponents and is poised to challenge the best 147-pounders.
  • Jaron Ennis (23), arguably the most-gifted – in terms of both ability and power – of the bunch.
  • Chris Colbert (24), a superb boxer-athlete who is on the cusp of a break-through victory.
  • Jaime Munguia (24), a bruising middleweight who won a title at 154 pounds and is getting better.
  • Edgar Berlanga (23), a super middleweight who has stopped all 16 of his opponents in the first round. Yes, you read that correctly.

This list isn’t meant to be complete. I could go on and on … and on. The intention was to demonstrate that boxing continues to produce superb all-around fighters, fighters who could’ve been successful in any era.

Anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t paying attention.

***

BAD

This might be our final image of James Kirkland in the ring. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

James Kirkland had a good career. The “Mandingo Warrior” wasn’t a great fighter but, because of his fiercely aggressive style, he was one of the more entertaining boxers of his era. Arturo Gatti became a legend because of that quality.

And Kirkland was able to do it in spite of several interruptions, namely stints in jail for a variety of offenses. He won the first 27 fights of his career, 24 by knockout, to generate excitement.

Then, back in 2011, he ran into a relatively unknown Japanese fighter named Nobuhiro Ishida, who stopped Kirkland less than two minutes into the fight. Kirkland fought without trainer and motivator Ann Wolfe in that bout, which seemed to indicate that he wasn’t the same without her.

That might be true but, more important, Ishida simply exposed Kirkland’s limitations.

Six fights later he received the opportunity of his career, a date with Canelo Alvarez in Houston. Things didn’t go well for the Texan. The Mexican star put him down three times before stopping him in Round 3. It was arguably the most-spectacular knockout of Alvarez’s career.

Kirkland, determined to get his life in order, left boxing for four years after that setback. He returned last year, beat two journeymen and then agreed to fight Juan Macias Montiel on the Morrell-Gavronski card on Saturday.

It was Nobuhiro Ishida all over again. Kirkland, 36, went down three times and didn’t survive a full two minutes. The ability to take a punch is gone. So are the reflexes. It’s time to call it quits.

Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) didn’t have a extraordinary career. He never won a major title. In fact, he never beat an elite opponent, except perhaps a young Alfredo Angulo. He’s best known for being on the wrong end of a brutal knockout.

He entertained a lot folks, though. And isn’t that the most important thing to fans? Enjoy your retirement, warrior.

***

WORSE

Frankie Randall (left) was the first to beat Julio Cesar Chavez. AP Photo / Jose Luis Magana

Frankie Randall represented the best and the worst of boxing.

Randall, who died at 59 on Wednesday, is a testament to perseverance. He received his first title shot in 1994, at 32 years old and 11 years into his career. And he won the fight by decision to capture the first of his three 140-pound titles.

His opponent that night in Las Vegas? Julio Cesar Chavez.

Randall became both the first to defeat the future Hall of Famer – who was 89-0-1 going into the fight — and the first to put him down, giving the talented, durable boxer-puncher an indelible place in boxing lore.

Three-time champion, conqueror of Chavez and victories over other top fighters of the day. Randall had a lot of which to be proud.

The problem is he fought too long. He went 3-13 in his last 16 fights, the last one when he was 43 years old. In all, he fought professionally for 22 years. That might’ve contributed to his condition later in life: His son said he died after a battle with dementia and Parkinson’s.

Perhaps the two primary lessons he will have taught fighters who followed him are these: never give up when you can still fight and walk away when you can’t.

RIP, champ.

[lawrence-related id=16750,16742]

David Morrell batters, stops Mike Gavronski in third round

David Morrell battered and then stopped Mike Gavronski in the third round Saturday in Los Angeles.

Call it a showcase. It definitely wasn’t a competitive fight.

David Morrell pounded Mike Gavronski at will until referee Jack Reiss ended the mismatch at 2:45 of the third round of a scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight Saturday in Los Angeles.

Morrell (4-0, 3 KOs) cut his teeth in the vaunted Cuban amateur system, giving him a pedigree that Gavronski (26-4-1, 16 KOs), a journeyman, couldn’t fathom.

The winner began landing hard, accurate punches almost from the opening bell and there wasn’t anything Gavronski could do about it. He tried to punch back, tried to move, tried to hold, eventually tried to just cover up to protect himself.

Nothing worked. Morrell was that much better.

Morrell landed punishing blows with such consistency that he might’ve been given a 10-8 score in the opening round without putting Gavronski down. However, with about 15 seconds remaining, a three-punch combination put the loser on his behind.

10-7?

The assault continued after that, as it seemed Morrell could’ve ended the fight at any time he wanted.

Finally, late in Round 3, he landed one more flurry of hard shots to the head that Gavronski probably had no idea was coming and Reiss said enough was enough by stopping the fight, such as it was.

Morrell weighed in at 170 pounds on Friday, two over the super middleweight limit. As a result, the fight was changed from a 12-rounder for a secondary world title to a 10-rounder.

Of course, that will not have slowed down Morrell, who is attacking professional boxing much as he went after Gavronski. He’s wasting no time. He has already won an “interim” title and probably is within a few fights of a legitimate world title fight.

In an interview with Boxing Junkie, he wouldn’t say when that might happen. He said only that he’ll be ready when it does. No one who watched his fight on Saturday will argue with him on that point.

[lawrence-related id=16742]

David Morrell batters, stops Mike Gavronski in third round

David Morrell battered and then stopped Mike Gavronski in the third round Saturday in Los Angeles.

Call it a showcase. It definitely wasn’t a competitive fight.

David Morrell pounded Mike Gavronski at will until referee Jack Reiss ended the mismatch at 2:45 of the third round of a scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight Saturday in Los Angeles.

Morrell (4-0, 3 KOs) cut his teeth in the vaunted Cuban amateur system, giving him a pedigree that Gavronski (26-4-1, 16 KOs), a journeyman, couldn’t fathom.

The winner began landing hard, accurate punches almost from the opening bell and there wasn’t anything Gavronski could do about it. He tried to punch back, tried to move, tried to hold, eventually tried to just cover up to protect himself.

Nothing worked. Morrell was that much better.

Morrell landed punishing blows with such consistency that he might’ve been given a 10-8 score in the opening round without putting Gavronski down. However, with about 15 seconds remaining, a three-punch combination put the loser on his behind.

10-7?

The assault continued after that, as it seemed Morrell could’ve ended the fight at any time he wanted.

Finally, late in Round 3, he landed one more flurry of hard shots to the head that Gavronski probably had no idea was coming and Reiss said enough was enough by stopping the fight, such as it was.

Morrell weighed in at 170 pounds on Friday, two over the super middleweight limit. As a result, the fight was changed from a 12-rounder for a secondary world title to a 10-rounder.

Of course, that will not have slowed down Morrell, who is attacking professional boxing much as he went after Gavronski. He’s wasting no time. He has already won an “interim” title and probably is within a few fights of a legitimate world title fight.

In an interview with Boxing Junkie, he wouldn’t say when that might happen. He said only that he’ll be ready when it does. No one who watched his fight on Saturday will argue with him on that point.

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David Morrell misses weight, fight with Mike Gavronski not for title

David Morrell and Mike Gavronski will not fight for a secondary title Saturday after Morrell came in over weight Friday.

David Morrell, the “interim” WBA super middleweight titleholder, was supposed to be fighting Mike Gavronski for a secondary title Saturday in Los Angeles on FOX.

However, Morrell weighed in two pounds over the limit Friday. Thus, the fight will be a 10-rounder with no belt at stake.

Morrell (3-0, 2 KOs) weighed 170 pounds, Gavronski (26-3-1, 16 KOs) 167.4.

Morrell, 22, is a former Cuban amateur star. He is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Lennox Allen on Aug. 8. Gavronski, a 34-year-old from Illinois, has won two fights since he was stopped by Jesse Hart in 2018.

David Morrell (left) came in two pounds over the limit for his super middleweight fight with Mike Gavronski on Saturday. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

Also on the card Saturday, former junior middleweight challenger James Kirkland (34-2, 30s) continues his comeback against Juan Macias Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout. Kirkland weighed 162, Montiel 161.4

Among other bouts: Jesus Ramos (13-0, 12 KOs) weighed 144.4 and Naim Nelson (14-4, 1 KO) 143.2 in a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout; Angel Barrientes (4-0, 3 KOs) weighed 123.4 and Travon Lawson (3-0, 2 KOs) for their four- or six-round junior featherweight bout; and Mark A. Hernandez (14-3-1, 3 KOs) and Alantez Fox (26-2-1, 12 KOs) weighed 166.6 and 167.2, respectively, for their 10-round super middleweight fight.

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David Morrell misses weight, fight with Mike Gavronski not for title

David Morrell and Mike Gavronski will not fight for a secondary title Saturday after Morrell came in over weight Friday.

David Morrell, the “interim” WBA super middleweight titleholder, was supposed to be fighting Mike Gavronski for a secondary title Saturday in Los Angeles on FOX.

However, Morrell weighed in two pounds over the limit Friday. Thus, the fight will be a 10-rounder with no belt at stake.

Morrell (3-0, 2 KOs) weighed 170 pounds, Gavronski (26-3-1, 16 KOs) 167.4.

Morrell, 22, is a former Cuban amateur star. He is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Lennox Allen on Aug. 8. Gavronski, a 34-year-old from Illinois, has won two fights since he was stopped by Jesse Hart in 2018.

David Morrell (left) came in two pounds over the limit for his super middleweight fight with Mike Gavronski on Saturday. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions

Also on the card Saturday, former junior middleweight challenger James Kirkland (34-2, 30s) continues his comeback against Juan Macias Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) in a 10-round middleweight bout. Kirkland weighed 162, Montiel 161.4

Among other bouts: Jesus Ramos (13-0, 12 KOs) weighed 144.4 and Naim Nelson (14-4, 1 KO) 143.2 in a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight bout; Angel Barrientes (4-0, 3 KOs) weighed 123.4 and Travon Lawson (3-0, 2 KOs) for their four- or six-round junior featherweight bout; and Mark A. Hernandez (14-3-1, 3 KOs) and Alantez Fox (26-2-1, 12 KOs) weighed 166.6 and 167.2, respectively, for their 10-round super middleweight fight.

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James Kirkland vs. Juan Macias Montiel: how to watch, start time

James Kirkland vs. Juan Macias Montiel: how to watch, start time.

Former junior middleweight contender James Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) continues his comeback Saturday night on FOX.

Kirkland (34-2, 30 KOs) is scheduled to face Juan Macias Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round middleweight bout on the David Morrell-Mike Gavronski card in Los Angeles.

The card starts at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with the main event due to begin about an hour into the show. You can watch it on on FOX (the network’s main channel).

Kirkland, who left boxing for four years after he was knocked out in three rounds by Canelo Alvarez in 2015, is 2-0 in a comeback that began last year. The 36-year-old lives and trains in San Antonio.

Montiel (21-4-2, 21 KOs) is a big puncher from Los Mochis, Mexico. He’s coming off a split draw with Hugo Centeno Jr. in December of last year.

Morrell, 22, has had only three pro fights (3-0, 2 KOs) but already is an “interim” titleholder and has his sights set on a legitimate world title shot. Gavronski (26-3-1, 16 KOs) is a 34-year-old from Lockport, Ill., who has won two fights since he was stopped in three rounds by Jesse Hart in 2018.

Morrell and Gavronski will be fighting for what the WBA calls its “regular” world title, which Boxing Junkie doesn’t recognize. Alvarez is the WBA champ.

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 26
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
  • Where: Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall, Los Angeles
  • TV: FOX (main channel)

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