David Morrell is looking for salvation against unbeaten light heavyweight contender Imam Khataev next Saturday night, July 12 Dazn ppv In Queens, New York.
Although not a world title eliminator, there is still a lot at stake for both fighters, especially Morrell (11-1, 9 COs), who have a loss and cannot afford to suffer another. A loss here for Morrell would force him to make a difficult decision about his career.
The winner of this battle is likely to be ignored and avoided by the United Champion Dmitri Biblical. But they will be able to pick up the belts because they are stripped one by one of Biblical.
Morrell is on the rankings #2 WBA, #2 WBC, #3 WBO and #8 at the ring. He has the athletics and the technical skills to defeat that some supporters called ‘The Next Betterbiev’. He will have to find out the right game plan to use and adjust if something doesn’t work.
Khataev’s strength and weaknesses
In Morrell’s 12-round decision-loss against David Banavidez in February last year, he waited too long to adjust and he lost too far to make up the lost ground. Khataev (10-0, 9 COs) has better power than benavidez and is just as aggressive as he is. What he lacks is speed, endurance and mobility. This is something that the younger fighter, Morrell, 27, can use.
In training grips, Morrell was seen bouncing around the ring, and looks like British fighter Ben Whittaker, a boxer who lost Khataev in the Olympic final in 2020. Whittaker made it difficult for Khataev to land more than one punch in any order and neutralize his power.
Morrell, in his last battle and many others, showed that he has the power to put Khataev on his own game and beat by striking it with him. If Morrell is willing to go to war with him, he has the offensive armament to pull him off and strike him.
In Khataev’s last battle against travel man Durval Elias Palacio, he was shot down with combinations late. There was one order in which Palacio appeared close to a knockout after landing Khataev with a fast fire combination with each shot. Khataev looked in a bad shape, with his eyes all pitched and carried his face from the heavy ladder he took.
If Morrell and Khataev were better known to our fans, their struggle would probably have been higher on the 12th map, as it promised to be more entertaining than two of the battles positioned before them.
Last updated on 07/06/2025
