T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas – WBA “regular” super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. (9-0, 8 KOs) delivered a dominant first-round knockout over Olympic bronze medalist Yamaguchi Falcao (24-2-1, 10 KOs) to retain his title.
“I’m so excited,” said Morrell. “This was a big moment and a big night for me, so a knockout in the first round is incredible. I think this is the best moment of my career tonight. It was a big event and I had a good fighter in front of me.”
The 25-year-old Cuban phenom made quick work of the usually durable Falcao, who had never been stopped and hadn’t been knocked down since 2018. After wobbling him early, Morrell scored his first knockdown with a right hook that forced Falcao to hold onto the ropes, prompting referee Celestino Ruiz to rule the knockdown.
While Falcao was able to rise to his feet, Morrell sensed his moment and delivered an even more powerful right hook that sent Falcao crashing to the mat, with the referee immediately waiving the count 2:22 into the round.
As he did in the pre-fight build up, Morrell continued to call for an intriguing super middleweight clash against unbeaten two-time super middleweight champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez.
The potential showdown between the 26-year-old Benavidez and Morrell would pit two of the division’s top contenders and exciting young action-fighters against each other in a matchup of unbeatens.
“David Benavidez is next,” said Morrell. “Where is he? I want to fight Benavidez. He’s next, 100%. I don’t want any other guys at 168-pounds. Just Benavidez. I respect Benavidez and his team, but inside the ring, I don’t respect anything.”