A fight between unbeaten David Morrell and light heavyweight contender Radivoje Kalajdzic is reportedly done for June.
Morrell Eyes Bigger Fights at 175
Thaboxingvoice reports that the Morrell-Kalajdzic is done for June. This will see the 26-year-old Cuban talent Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs) move up to 175 to continue chasing David Benavidez and looking for bigger paydays.
The light heavyweight division is hot now, with fighters from the 168-lb division moving up to take advantage of Saudi interest in this weight class.
Staying at 168 is a dead end for most fighters unless they’ve been blessed the way highly flawed Jaime Munguuia with him getting a money fight against Canelo Alvarez, which he doesn’t deserve in any way, shape or form, aside from being an easy mark.
Potential for Undisputed Title Shot
It’s a smart move for Morrell, as he’s NOT expected ever to get a shot against the highly selective undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo, and guys like Edgar Berlanga, Jermall Charlo, and Caleb Plant have shown little interest in fighting him.
Going to 175 will put Morrell in a position to get good money if he can get a chance to fight for the undisputed championship against the winner of the fight between IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev and WBA belt holder Dmitry Bivol.
Kalajdzic: A Worthy Opponent
The 32-year-old Serbian-born Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs) is ranked #6 WBA and #8 WBC and has won his last five fights against lower-level opposition since being blown out in five rounds by Artur Beterbiev in 2019.
Kalajdzic has good power and an aggressive, action-packed style of fighting, which should make for an interesting fight against the powerful Morrell.
Morrell needs to get some rounds in, as he’s only fought three rounds in the last two years since 2022. He’s not active, and he’s knocking everyone out too quickly. In Morrell’s last two fights, he’s stopped Sena Agbeko in two rounds and Yamaguchi Falcão in one.
If Morrell stays at 175, he’ll have better fight options than if he stays at 168 and is avoided by the top guys like Canelo, Plant, Berlanga, and Charlo. Unfortunately, one problem that will continue to plague Morrell is the rarity of his fights.
With him being a PBC fighter and not having many available dates on their new Amazon Prime Video platform, Morrell may be stuck on the sidelines, rarely fighting.