Morel’s path to victory: Outworking Imam Katayev avoids past mistakes against Benavides

David Morell will need to fight at a faster pace and throw more punches to beat 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Imam Katayev in the 10th round light heavyweight match on July 12th at Queens, New York.

Former two-division world champion Morell (10-1, 9 KOS), lost his final battle with David Benavides after losing to him. Morel has better power, but he has not coincident with the high powers from the “Mexican monster” Benavidez, losing a 12-round unanimous decision.

Morel’s Punch Volume Strategy

In hindsight, Morel had to train a volume punch at medium distance for this. What was missing was a consistent output. We were able to see the damage Morel had done to Benavides’ face.

For Khataev, considered the next Artur Beterbiev, Morrell must let go of his hand and focus on overtaking him. Setting a fast pace is key to victory over Khataev.

Morrell, 27, could lose this fight if he tried to put Khataev in the box. The judges are impressed by the heavy, eye-catching shots from Russia’s Katayev, who hit hard on every shot. It’s wrong for David to oppose him all night. Morel doesn’t move enough to escape the pressure from fighter jets like the Khataev.

It’s difficult to measure how good Khataev is, as the opposition he has faced has been at a low level since turning the pro in 2021. On the power side, the 30-year-old Khataev is looking at the level of Artur Beterbiev, but he doesn’t have a gas tank.

Despite Khataev’s Olympic qualifications, his promoters chose to match him with fewer fighters. Now he is about to take a big step in his class and is going to fight Morell.

Imam Khatayev’s stamina problem

Khataev (10-0, 9 KOS) is the biggest puncher Morrell has fought in his six-year professional career, but he has been shown to have serious stamina issues.

In his final battle with Hatayev’s Daral Elias Palacio, he gasped in the Championship round and appeared near the 9th round to stop. Morel is on a level other than Palacio, and if Hataev empties a gas tank against him, he will encounter trouble at the midpoint of the battle.

dazn ppv Fight Card

Edgar Blanca vs Ham the Sheilas
Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda
Alberto Puero vs Sabriel Mattias
David Morrell vs Imam Khataev
Reito Tsutsumi vs Erik Hanley