MORRELL STOPS HENDERSON IN MINNEAPOLIS!
WBA world super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr (now 7-0, 6 KOs) successfully defended his title with a 4th round TKO over the Kalvin Henderson (now 15-2-1, 11 KOs) on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis, MN. Morrell dominated rounds 1-4 while Henderson showed toughness and grit. The end came when Morrell landed unanswered punches with Henderson backed to the ropes at 2:35 of round four.
Attendance was announced as an Armory record breaking number of 4,695.
David Morrell
“I want to thank my trainer Ronnie Shields who did an excellent job today. That’s what our game plan was, to be concentrated and if I didn’t get him by the end of the first round, I was looking to get him in the later rounds.
“I’m excited. Thank you everyone for coming out to The Armory. I’m just happy, man. I’m happy. I’m so excited every time I fight in my new home in Minnesota. I made this place my home.
“I was 150% ready for the fight. I had that extra edge of 50%, so I’m 150% every time I fight.”
“Ronnie Shields explained to me in the corner that punch was open. He told me to wait until I see that one punch that is going to hurt him. And that’s what I did and I executed correctly.
“I’m ready for everyone at 168. I’m open for everything. Call me! Call my team. I’m ready for everyone at 168 pounds.
“I promised my brother a stoppage in rounds one through five. Promise fulfilled! And with a round to spare in the fourth. I’m looking at my phone now and I’m seeing all the messages from my family. That’s what this is all about for me.
“It’s David Benavidez, it’s Caleb Plant, it’s Anthony Dirrell. It’s whoever wants to get in the ring with me. I’m ready for any of them.”
Kalvin Henderson
“We’re good. It’s part of the game. I got cut, but I feel good otherwise.
“We knew that he wanted to come out strong like he did, but we wanted to show that his punches weren’t doing anything. We were picking off most of those shots. We were trying to wear him out, and the game plan was working but he landed some shots and the referee called it.
“We knew he had high energy, that coming from the amateurs he had a fast-paced style, but we tried to wear him out and finish him in the later rounds.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been hit harder. Even though his punches were heavy, it wasn’t anything that was really that heavy. I just got caught with some punches and the referee called it.
“I’m a fighter at heart and I compete so when he stopped the fight, I was upset. But I understand. The referee is just doing his job.
“I want to get better at my craft and knock him out the next time we fight.”
Photo Credit Matt Blewett representing MinnesotaBoxing.com at the The Armory