David Morrell Jr. has never been shy about pursuing opportunities far beyond his youth and experience.
The latest win leaves the 23-year-old Cuban southpaw seeking out the very best that the super middleweight division has to offer.
“I would love to fight Caleb Plant,” insisted Morrell about the reigning IBF super middleweight titlist.
The claim was made in the aftermath of Morrell registering a first-round knockout of previously unbeaten Mario Cazares (12-1, 5KOs). The bout headlined last Sunday’s special edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Fox from The Armory in Morrell’s current hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, to where he relocated prior to turning pro in 2019.
The main event came with a secondary version of the WBA super middleweight title at stake, which Morrell claimed in just his third pro fight. It came courtesy of a 12-round unanimous decision win over unbeaten Lennox Allen last August 8, having since added a third-round knockout of Mike Gavronski in a non-title fight last December 26 and now the knockout win over Culiacan’s Cazares at 2:23 of round one.
Each of his last three fights have aired live on Fox, which has also housed the entirety of the IBF super middleweight title reign enjoyed by Plant (21-0, 12KOs), the unbeaten IBF titlist from Las Vegas by way of Ashland City, Tennessee.
Both fight under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner, which is well invested in the super middleweight division. Plant is currently eyeing an undisputed showdown with WBA/WBC/WBO titlist and divisional cash cow Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (56-1-2, 38KOs). Such a fight would crown the first-ever undisputed super middleweight champion in the three- or four-belt era, though still in the discussion phase.
If such negotiations end with Plant still searching for his next opponent, at least one will be game for the task.
“I’m ready for anyone at 168 pounds and now the world can see it,” insists Morrell. “I’m ready to fight Plant. He’s an excellent boxer, but I’m ready to go.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox