Super middleweight David Morrell scores nasty KO over Mario Cazares on PBC show

David Morrell’s first title protection lasted lower than a spherical.

The unbeaten Cuban southpaw demolished Mario Cazares with a left hand to defend his secondary tremendous middleweight title for the primary time, by first-round knockout Sunday at The Armory in Minneapolis, the place Morrell resides.

Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs), who compiled an novice file of 130-2 and took a slew of gold medals alongside the best way, buckled Cazares with a straight left hand earlier than following up with the identical punch, which folded him.

The 23-year-old outpointed Lennox Allen in August 2020 to win an interim title earlier than scoring a third-round knockout of Mike Gavronski on December 26. Lower than a month after his win, the WBA elevated Morrell to “common champion.”

The 30-year-old Cazares (12-1, 5 KOs), of Mexico, who holds an novice victory over famous person Canelo Alvarez, was coming off a six-round technical determination over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. final September. Morrell’s dealing with of Cazares put his win over JCC Jr into profound perspective.

Combat watchers frightened that Cazares had suffered a damaged leg because it folded beneath him on the best way right down to the canvas, however he seemed to be okay.

Morrell might nicely have instilled an elevated stage of respect, and possibly even a touch of concern into his fellow rivals at 168-pounds with this breathtaking knockout in simply his fifth skilled battle.

Cruiserweight Brandon Glanton and Efetobor Apochi delivered in a Combat of the Yr caliber efficiency within the chief assist bout. However it was a sixth-round knockdown scored by Glanton that propelled the American to a 10-round break up determination victory. Two judges scored it 95-94 for Glanton, whereas a 3rd in some way had it 96-93 for Apochi, who was outworked for a lot of the battle.

Glanton (14-0, 11 KOs), 29, a former defensive finish for Albany State who picked up boxing on the age of 21, clobbered Apochi with an enormous left hook on the finish of spherical six and had his opponent out on his toes. Apochi, who suffered his first loss regardless of getting into the bout with an ideal KO file, was saved by the bell.

Each fighters ran low on petrol in spherical seven as Apochi appeared to get better from the sooner knockdown. However to start the eighth spherical, Glanton and Apochi aimed to take every others’ heads off. Glanton linked with the most effective punch of the spherical — a straight proper hand — which despatched Apochi again into the ropes. With lower than 10 seconds remaining within the tenth and ultimate spherical, the 33-year-old Apochi (11-1, 11 KOs), a Nigeria native primarily based in Houston, linked with a proper hand that badly wobbled Glanton, however each males made it to the ultimate bell.

In line with Compubox, Glanton landed 187 of 653 punches (29%). Apochi linked on 183 of 721 blows (25%).

On the deeper undercard, All “The Machine Gun” Rivera (22-5, 18 KOs) dropped beforehand unbeaten Omar Juarez (11-1, 5 KOs) to a knee in spherical 9 enroute to an upset 10-round majority determination in a welterweight contest.

Seasoned veteran Nathaniel Gallimore (22-5-1, 17 KOs) gained a well-earned 10-round majority determination over beforehand unbeaten prospect Leon Lawson III (14-1, 7 KOs) in a junior middleweight affair.

Gentle heavyweight Atif Oberlton (3-0, 3 KOs) stopped Jasper McCargo (4-2-2, 2 KO) with a left hand to the physique in spherical 5.

Additionally, junior middleweight prospect Travon Marshall (2-0, 1 KO) picked up the victory over Ruben Torres (4-2, 1 KO) in a four-rounder, by unanimous determination.