David Morrell’s perfect scenario places him in the ring with Canelo Alvarez

The right growth is meant to go like this: Ring/WBA/WBO/WBC tremendous middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez and IBF titlist Caleb Plant would meet in September for the undisputed 168-pound championship.

Showing on the undercard could be The Ring’s No.1 contender David Benavidez (24-0, 21 knockouts) taking up WBA-regular titlist David Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs).

The winner of Alvarez (56-1-2, 38 KOs) and Plant (21-0, 12 KOs) would then face the winner of Benavidez-Morrell someday in both December or early 2022.

Morrell has no downside with that dynamic state of affairs, as a result of in the long run, he feels, he’ll be the one nonetheless standing.

It’s loads to ask. Morrell doesn’t care. Alvarez has proven unimaginable fortitude throughout his 2021 run via the 168-pound division, whereas Plant waits for his star-turn alternative in opposition to Canelo. Benavidez yearns for one more title belt after shedding the WBC strap on the scales in his title protection in opposition to Roamer Alexis Angulo final August. It makes Morrell’s WBA bauble sturdy incentive.

One factor is for certain. Morrell, the 6-foot-1, 23-year-old Cuban southpaw puncher who is de facto righthanded, will trigger issues for anybody at 168.

“I need to struggle two extra instances earlier than the top of the 12 months,” stated Morrell via an interpreter. “I’ve the self-discipline to beat anybody. I stay right here in Minneapolis, Minnesota) and it’s important to be disciplined. My self-discipline comes inside myself, nevertheless it does make it simpler to be disciplined dwelling right here, largely throughout the winter. My trainers will wake me up whether or not I need to run within the snow or not (laughs).

“Nobody can beat me at 168 kilos; not even Canelo. After I say I’m prepared for anybody and everybody, I imply that I’m prepared for anybody and everybody. I say that as a result of I see myself as the perfect at 168.

“I work arduous at all the things. Nothing has been handed to me. The final time I misplaced a struggle was in 2016. I don’t plan on shedding once more. I’m prepared for no matter comes my approach. I’ll let my staff resolve that. There’s nobody that may beat me, like I stated earlier than, not even Canelo.”

The venerable Luis DeCubas Sr., who promotes Morrell, has no downside reiterating what his fighter says. DeCubas embraced Morrell’s expertise when he first noticed him. He says Morrell is sort of a Vasiliy Lomachenko with energy in each fingers.

DeCubas had such confidence in Morrell that he had no downside placing him in a title struggle in his third struggle.

“I’ve no downside placing Morrell into the ring with Canelo proper now, and I used to be there ringside when (Erislandy) Lara beat him in (2014, which Canelo received by a split-decision),” DeCubas stated. “Morrell is way loads greater model than Lara, who can punch loads tougher than Lara. Canelo is a small man. He’s the perfect on the planet, however he’s a brief man subsequent to Morrell.

“This child Morrell I inform my son (Luis Jr.) the entire time that I do know what I’ve. Joe Goossen stated it finest, Morrell can struggle inside, center and lengthy distance. What proved Morrell was the actual factor was this Cuban child went to Minnesota and we made him the home fighter. He’s proven nice self-discipline dwelling there.

“We’ll await PBC for when Morrell fights once more, and to me, we’re in nice fingers with PBC and Al Haymon. I might be very joyful if we will get the bogeyman of the division, David Benavidez. To me, Benavidez is the perfect man within the division and I do know my man Morrell will beat him.

“Benavidez desires a title struggle—he has it. If we will play that out with the Canelo-Plant winner dealing with the Benavidez-Morrell winner, it could be excellent. I’ve no downside with that state of affairs.

“It’s not my state of affairs, nevertheless it’s a terrific state of affairs, as a result of I do know that my man Morrell is the perfect. I need to give Benavidez his shot. Right here it’s. Let’s do that. We’re not afraid of anybody.”

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He might be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.