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Rising boxing star David Morrell (10-0, 9 KOs), currently holding the WBA's secondary super middleweight title, is poised to embark on a weight class ascent as he eyes a challenge for the secondary WBA light heavyweight title against Radivoje Kalajdzic (29-2, 21 KOs) on June 22.
Morrell's decision to step up to the 175-pound division mirrors that of fellow boxer David Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs), who is also slated to compete on the same card against Oleksandr Gvodzyk (20-1, 16 KOs) for the WBC interim title at light heavyweight.
These anticipated bouts are slated to feature prominently on the undercard of Gervonta Davis' WBA lightweight title defense against Frank Martin. While Premier Boxing Champions is yet to provide official confirmation, the event is expected to unfold in Houston, Texas, with live broadcast coverage on Amazon Prime PPV.
Initial reports regarding Morrell's transition to the light heavyweight division surfaced courtesy of journalist Fernando Sabatini, shedding light on the fighter's intentions to challenge himself at a higher weight class.
Should Morrell emerge victorious against Kalajdzic to secure the secondary WBA light heavyweight title, he will be required to relinquish his current WBA secondary title in the super middleweight category, as per Sabatini's insights.
The decision to move up in weight comes as Morrell, akin to his PBC teammate Benavidez, has encountered frustration in the super middleweight division, largely due to the dominance of undisputed champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs).
Alvarez is slated to return to the ring on May 4, defending his undisputed championship against former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena—a matchup eagerly anticipated by fans and pundits alike.
Despite Benavidez's longstanding status as a mandatory challenger within the WBC, Morrell finds himself effectively in the same position as Canelo's mandatory challenger through the WBA. However, securing opportunities against marquee names in the division has proven increasingly elusive.
A move to the light heavyweight division not only presents Morrell with fresh challenges but also positions him as a contender for a potential showdown against the winner of the highly anticipated undisputed clash between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol.