Professional career
Morrell made his professional debut on August 28, 2019, scoring a first-round knockout (KO) victory over Yendris Rodriguez Valdez at the Minneapolis Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [4]
He scored a second-round KO victory against Quinton Rankin in November [5] before facing Lennox Allen for the vacant WBA interim super middleweight title on August 8, 2020, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. The bout featured on the undercard of the interim welterweight title fight between Thomas Dulorme and Jamal James. The event was originally scheduled to take place on April 11 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [6] In what was described as a dominant performance, Morrell captured the WBA interim title via twelve-round unanimous decision (UD) with the judges' scorecards reading 120–108, 119–109, and 118–110. [7] [8]
He was set to make the first defense of his title against Mike Gavronski on December 26 at the Shine Exposition Hall in Los Angeles. After Morrell failed to weigh within the super middleweight limit, reports claimed that he had been stripped of his title. However, it was later revealed that a clause in the fight contract allowed for the fight to continue as a non-title contest. Morrell defeated Gavronski via third-round KO. [9]
The following month, Morrell was elevated from interim champion to Regular champion. [10] The first defense of his Regular title came against Mario Cazares on June 27, 2021, at the Minneapolis Armory. Morrell Retained his title via first-round KO. [11]
After defending his title on November 5, 2022, against Aidos Yerbossynuly, knocking him out in the 12th round, [12] Yerbossynuly was hospitalized and put into an induced coma due to a subdural hematoma. [13] [14]
Morrell vs. Kalajdzic
Morrell was scheduled to face Radivoje Kalajdzic at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on August 3, 2024. [15] Morrell defeated Kalajdzic by unanimous decision and won the vacant WBA "Regular" light heavyweight title. [16]
Morrell vs. Benavidez
On October 8, 2024 it was announced that Morrell would face David Benavidez, who at that time held the WBC interim light heavyweight title. [17] [18] [19] On February 1, 2025, the two met at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada, engaging in a highly competitive fight that saw both fighters throwing at a high volume. While Benavidez controlled most of the fight, Morrell scored a flash knockdown over Benavidez towards the end of the 11th, the second of Benavidez's career. However, following a furious exchange at the end of the round, Morrell threw a shot after the bell that connected on Benavidez, which prompted Thomas Taylor to deduct a point from Morrell. [20] After a similarly high-paced 12th round, Morrell lost via a unanimous decision, losing by scores of 118–108 and 115–111 twice, with Benavidez taking his WBA title in the process. CompuBox stats revealed that Morrell and Benavidez threw 601 and 553 punches respectively, yet Benavidez out-landed Morrell 224 to 165, connecting at a more accurate rate of 40.5% compared to Morrell's 27.5%. This was the first loss of Morrell's career. [21]
Morrell vs. Khataev
On July 12, 2025, Morrell faced unbeaten prospect Imam Khataev, who was coming into the bout 10–0 with 9 KOs. On July 8, the International Testing Agency, under the auspicies of the IBA, revealed that Khataev had tested positive for clomifene in April of that year, handing Khataev a two-year suspension. [22] Despite this, Morrell insisted on pursuing the bout as scheduled, and given the IBA's apparently limited jurisdiction, the bout was allowed to continue. [23]
Despite suffering the first knockdown of his career in the fifth round, Morrell bounced back in the second half of the fight and won a controversial 10-round split decision, handing Khataev his defeat. [24]
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