June 26th in Minnesota. WBA regular super middleweight title at stake, 1st defense of Morrell after being elevated from interim. Ryder is ranked WBA #6.
Morrell looks like the physically stronger of the two. He'll probably outbox Ryder but Morrell's hands low, showboating style will eventually come back to haunt him when he steps in with a better opponent. He reminds me of David Benavidez - come forward, reliant on being the stronger, tougher boxer in the ring.
Crazy thing is that Morrell isnt even some guy like Loma or Usyk who had long amatuer careers and went pro late so they could move faster. Morrell is still only 22, and only ever fought youth level boxing (Where he was admitedly extremely successful)
Well, he didn't exactly skip the simonpures... he posted a 135-5 record in the amateurs over six years. So, yeah, he didn't stay as crazily overlong as the Ukrainians did but he isn't learning on the job either.
He is stepping up against a better opponent. One that beat the division's former kingpin a little over a year and a half ago, and this will bite him.
