BOXING: MNPLS ARMORY TO HOST 4 SHOWS IN 2020

The eyes of the professional boxing world will again be on Minneapolis in 2020 as the historic Minneapolis Armory continues to establish itself as one of the nation’s elite sport’s venues.

Premier Boxing Champions and Fox Sports have confirmed that the Armory will host four nationally televised boxing events next year featuring top national and local talent.

World-class welterweight contender Jamal “Shango” James of Minneapolis, an Armory fan favorite, and elite prospect David Morrell Jr., a native of Cuba now fighting out of Minneapolis, are among the local stars to be showcased. Specific times and dates will be announced later.

PBC and Fox Sports presented four major boxing cards at the Armory in 2019, including two world championship bouts. James, Morrell Jr. and former world champion Caleb Truax, of Osseo, were among the featured fighters.

All four 2020 cards are scheduled to be televised on Fox – an especially big platform typically reserved for the network’s top boxing events.

James (26-1), who fought four times at the Armory in 2018 and 2019, is on the cusp of a world title shot. The Minneapolis fighter is ranked No. 6 by the WBA, No. 7 by IBF and No. 12 by the WBC. ESPN has James at No. 8.

A rangy 6-2 fighter with superior boxing skills and a powerful body attack, James is coming off his biggest win to date, a unanimous decision over former world champion Antonio DeMarco at the Armory in July.

“I provide a serious problem for anybody who gets in the ring with me,” James said. “I’ve got the height, I’ve got the range. I’ve got speed and I’ve got the strength as well. I think that’s a huge obstacle for anybody in the welterweight division. And especially for the bigger names; they don’t want to go out there and take an L on their record.”

After winning 130 of 132 amateur bouts, Morrell made the jump to the pro ranks last August with a blowout win over Yendris Rodriguez Valdez at the Armory. Morrell, now 2-0 as a professional, is poised to make a big splash in the light-heavyweight division.

Morrell recently signed a long-term contract with Warriors Boxing of South Florida and Russia-based Ural Promotions. His manager, Minneapolis native and legendary promoter Luis DeCubas, can’t hold back his enthusiasm for this young boxing phenom.

“This dynamic young gun is going to be a superstar in our sport,” DeCubas said. “Morrell’s amateur record is stunning. To tell you the truth, in the ring he reminds me of a young Sugar Ray Robinson, who fittingly fought at the Armory in his prime. Minnesota boxing fans are in for a treat to see the start of a ring career we expect to soar.”   

Rich in boxing tradition, the Armory has hosted fights featuring all-time greats that include Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong and Fritzie Zivic, and local legends such as Glen Flanagan and Jack Gibbons. In 2019 , the Armory hosted more PBC boxing cards, than the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.