GRAND MORRELL: KHATAEV FIGHT WEEK

David Morrell made him arrive today to New York for his lightweight heavyweight fight against Imam Khatev this Saturday, July 12th, in Queens. Morrell (11-1, 9 kos) noted that he was “more focused” after correcting the mistakes he made in his last battle and intended to use what he learned to defeat Khatev (10-0, 9 kos).

GRAND MORRELL GRAND

The highly regarded 175-weight competitor, Morrell, said “I got this,” Predicting victory over what some say is the ‘next Beterbiev’ in his 10-round subscard battle against Khataev.

Morrell, 27, showed in training that he was working on his combination punching, throwing quick shots, imitating the style that David Benavidez uses. Part of what Morrell learned from his loss to the Mexican monster Benavidez last February was the need for him to focus more on throwing combinations. That was missing from his crime.

“Focus more on myself and the training after the experience in my last fight. I’m back,” said David Morrell during today Grand attainments in New York. “I have everything in my mind. It’s about the preparation for this. No disrespect towards my opponent, but I got this,” Morrell said, forecasting a victory over Imam Khataev on Saturday.

What was clear from watching Morrell’s final performance against Benavidez is that he took too long to change to plan B when he fell behind early in the fight. There should be a switch after the third or fourth round when Morrell had been worked in those rounds by the volume puncher.

When Morrell finally went after Benavidez in the 10th, he couldn’t go back in the fighting. However, when Morrell showed his power, he had a major impact on Benavidez, which was cast down and took a lot of punishment in the final nine minutes. He looked beaten at the end of the 12th round of the harder punch from the stronger, younger Morrell.

Morrell’s winning strategy

“I have to do what I do best. Be myself and go. That’s always the key to my success,” said Morrell.

It will be dangerous on Morrell’s behalf to boxing Khataev in the fighting because it will give too much of the rounds. The judges could form their views and not praise him if he comes forward in the second half of the fighting as he did against Benavidez.

Khataev’s weaknesses revealed

What we saw in Khataev’s last bull against Durval Elias Palacio is that he is exposed to weight, unable to fight at a fast pace, and fade in the second half of his fight. Morrell needs to attack Khataev from the outset and force him to a quick lace battle to get tired. Khataev spent many years in the amateur ranks, and has no gas tank after three rounds as he did before he turned into a pro. It is also old 30 and looks closer to 35.

“Morrell is trying to bounce back from his loss to David Benavidez. He stayed too long to go that night,” commentator Todd Grisham said for Morrell’s loss last February.

Benavidez fights learned lessons

“He had to against Benavidez, but this is Southpaw Tal, a power power that needed his confidence. He had his confidence from ‘The Mexican Monster.’ I think we’re going to see a different beast (Saturday night), ”Sergio Mora said about Morrell.

Mora is wrong. Morrell didn’t have to wait until the second half against Benavidez. That’s how he lost by waiting. That’s a foolish statement. What Morrell should have done was using his power game on Benavidez early and throwing fast combinations as he was doing because he wasn’t going to beat him with his one-punch-on-the-time approach.

Morrell’s coach should have seen that when coaching a camp and focused on learning how to throw the same fast fire combinations Benavidez uses as his bread and butter for his crime. Morrell’s hand speed is just as good, if not better, but failed to train to use this method for that fighting.