In a non-title bout, WBA interim super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs) scored a brutal third round TKO over WBA #11 Mike Gavronski (26-4-1, 16 KOs) on Saturday night at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. 50:1 favorite Morrell teed off on Gravonski immediately and dropped him at the end of round one. After more punishment in rounds two and three, referee Jack Reiss waved it off at 2:45 of round three. The bout was switched from a world title defense to a 170lb limit non-title ten-rounder at the last minute.
Hard-punching middleweight Juan Macias “Juanito” Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs) destroyed fan favorite James “Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland (34-3, 30 KOs) in the first round. Kirkland started aggressively, but walked into a punch and was dropped. Montiel then floored the 36-year-old Kirkland two more times before the bout was waved off at 1:56. Impressive win for Montiel, who was a slight -130 favorite. He is the nephew of former world champion Fernando Montiel.
In a swing bout, unheralded super bantamweight Travon Lawson (4-0, 3 KOs) upset highly regarded Angel Barrientes (4-1, 3 KOs). Lawson dropped Barrientes in round four with a barrage of punches. Barrientes beat the count, but looked wobbly and the bout was waved off. Time was :55.
Unbeaten 19-year-old super lightweight Jesus Ramos (14-0, 13 KOs) impressively battered Naim Nelson (14-5, 1 KO) for four rounds. The big-punching Ramos dropped Nelson in rounds three and four. The bout was halted by Nelson’s corner after round four.
6’4 super middleweight Alantez Fox (27-2-1, 12 KOs) outboxed Marcos “Madman” Hernandez (14-4-1, 3 KOs) over ten tactical rounds. Scores were 96-94, 97-93, 98-92.
Undefeated super bantamweight prospect Chavez Barrientes (5-0, 4 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Paul Carroll (4-2, 4 KOs). Barrientes dropped Carroll in round three and Carroll’s corner pulled him out after the round.
In a clash of unbeaten welterweights, Radzhab Butaev (13-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Terry Chatwood (9-1-1, 5 KOs) in round three. A left to the body put Chatwood down and out. Time was 1:01. Butaev fought for the WBA welter title last year, dropping a unanimous decision to Alexander Besputin. Besputin then failed his drug test so the result was changed to a no-decision and Butaev got his 0 back.
That was a nasty shot! Good for Butaev after what happened with his last fight. I would think he’s probably headed for a fight with either Ugas or Jamal James.
Chatswood had Psalms something on the back of his trunks. My advice is that he go back to church and stay there!
Why do you hate God so much? The commentators pointed out on the telecast that Chatwood was a hard-working family man who works day jobs to support his kids.
Those who take shots at people of faith are
usually faithless themselves.
James Kirkland needs to retire ASAP. He’s a warrior but just gets hit way too much.
Agreed, he was good but not good enough. Best to retire while still coherent.
Arturo-He does. I’ve seen him absorb way too many shots over the years. He was a beast when he was coming up, and perhaps still is against limited opposition, but he has no ability to defend himself or take a punch. It would be cruel to allow him to continue fighting.
Kirkland looked like a rag doll flopping around getting battered all over the ring. His defense was terrible! Kirkland’s reflexes are way too slow now and you are right, it’s time for him to ride off in the sunset of life and retire.
This may be too early to say but Lawson may have destroyed the career of Angel Barrientes. The way he took him out was incredibly brutal for such a young man. But then again, many have lost early only to become better. We shall see.
Also I hope James Kirkland does retire before getting seriously hurt.
Oh my lord! David Morrell is incredible! That was his 4th fight! I only read about him, but he is a natural and a perfect fighter! So poised and smooth; he was smacking Grovonski around like a double end bag, with a full arsenal of uppercuts, hooks, and perfectly executed power lefts. He is expert at using angles and exploiting his reach advantage. He is going to be champion for a long, long time. I couldn’t help but envision how he’d do against Berlanga. Too early to tell, but I’d have to say advantage- Morrell.
It’s EASY to look good against a slow, no defense, unbalanced, weak punching bag.
Hoe on earth did Gravonski get ranked #11?
@Juan- True, Grovonski isn’t exactly a world beater, but that’s just the start. You’re going to continue to see Morrell completely outclass a lot of fighters until he gets to the highest level, which will be soon. The guy is in a league of his own and he’s only going to get better. He fights with a totally different energy than Berlanga. There’s another hot Super Middle prospect coming up-Bek the Bully! …Stacked!
Hes not that good. Maybe he can be. But prospects taking out tomato cans isn’t exactly impressive.
Anthony J, you’re right. Exactly what happened with Chavez jr and look what happened with him.
@Whetto-Are you really trying to compare Chavez Jr. with David Morrell ? Chavez Jr. was spoon fed the lamest guys they could dig up in Mexico when he was coming up, and he even struggled with some of them. A Mexican trainer I know told me at the time, every fighter in Mexico was dying to fight Chavez Jr because they knew they would knock him out. They had to carefully hand pick guys they knew wouldn’t! He never even fought a real contender until he was 40-0! Morrell is now 4-0. The man can box! Game recognize game!
somebody surely knew James Kirkland was not prepared both physically and mentally to be a professional boxer anymore and kept this fight from ever occuring. * Nate Robinson had a better chance of winning.
Remember when people tried to act like Kirkland was an ATG, ONLY when Anne Wolfe was in his corner? He wasn’t good and wasn’t agreesive without his female trainer? Ahahahah man some boxing fans are stupid.
Every fighter finds his/her niche that makes them excel in the ring. Kirkland apparently needs extra guidance and motivation as a fighter as he appears lost without an exceptional trainer. Some trainers never have those qualities to keep their fighter(s) moving in the right path. Ann Wolfe knew what it took to make Kirkland “tick” as a fighter. Kirkland’s personal life has been troubled with run-ins with the law and I hope he keeps himself motivated in the right path of life even after this defeat last night.
@Jay-No, I don’t remember when anybody thought James Kirkland was an all time great. I do remember when Anne Wolf was in his corner and he looked like a better fighter and was knocking everybody out while coming up and people thought he was someone to watch, but I don’t recall anybody thinking he was an ATG
Never heard of Morrell until this fight, he’s definitely someone to watch. Gavronski is no Caleb Plant, but he’s won 20 something fights. Berlanga vs. Morrell in 2 or 3 fights would be must see TV. Looks like he’s being moved fast, so why not? Kirkland is done, can’t take a punch, much like Curtis Stevens. Unfortunately he’ll fight again. Joe Goosen said Caleb Plant would beat Canelo. Plant’s good, but not that good.
How is Morrell Jr the Interim SM champion and he’s had 4 fights?
He beat 22-0-1 Lennox Allen to win the Interim title.
exactly todays fight game is about becoming a world champion with the least amount of pro fights *yawn* its just marketting of a bunch of superhype jobs feeding them Home depot workers until its time to fight a live dog
Boxing is probably the most criticized sport on the planet. Many say that the way it is controlled by third-world sanctioning bodies and their pathetic ratings has been paving the way to boxing’s irrelevancy for years. If you want an example of boxing at its most despicable level, watch the vile mismatch aired tonight between Morrell and Gavronski. That this sickening beating went into the third round borders on criminal. Disgraceful on so many levels.
Bruce-How can you call a 3-0 fighter going up against a 26-3-1 fighter with a world ranking a vile mismatch? Maybe it’s because Morrell is just that good. Who are most 3-0 fighters going up against? People are all about the Berlanga hype train, myself included, but Gavronski is probabably better (on paper at least) than anybody Berlanga has faced in 16 fights. I’m not praising Morrell because he simply dismantled Mike Gavronski, I’m praising him for the skill he displayed and the ease in which he did it.
Gavronski just got placed in the rankings of the WBA just for this fight and the so called interim title he supposedly won was against an unranked opponent although undefeated at the time but he had mainly fought Guyana islanders then move to NY and fought a few cabbys but you get my point i think
Morrel is a good fighter but he lost the battle on the scales. That shows he’s too young to be considered professional.
Many world-class veterans have failed to make weight in certain fights. Morrell took this fight on 2 weeks notice!!
Forgive my typo…it was 3 weeks notice.
Big deal. Make weight. he’s young so I don’t see him hanging around long at 168
A classic mismatch Morrell vs Gavronski. Video of this so called fight should be used to inform up an coming matchmakers on how to fail.
Kirtland vs Montiel. Old boxing line ” they get charged for murder in this state”. A shame.
Butaev carrys his left hand in the basement and a right hand ko puncher will make him pay. Has to drive his trainer crazy. Chatwood A good prospect guessing due to panademic he did not have adequate sparing.
Trail Boss, The WBA, the CA Commission, Gavronkski’s management and FOX all should share blame for permitting this travesty.
I agree 100%.
Gavronski was not qualified to fight in that mismatch anymore than Nelson for Ramos. Very bad show.
I am willing to bet by the middle of next year we will be reading about James Kirkland going to prison for armed robbery, murder or something of that sort. Once his boxing career is officially over he will revert back to his old ways to try to make a quick buck.
Beserker, man that’s not nice.
May not be nice but its a strong possibility.
Morrell looks very polished. Although its hard to see how Gravonski won 26 fights let alone be a ranked fighter. Morrell also seems to be a good sport and humble which i like to see in a good fighter. I didn’t know that he took the fight on short notice so Ill give him a pass on not making weight.
Kirkland….bro.. Montiiels upper cuts and accuracy were excellent. Hard to tell how good he is because Kirkland offered nothing.
Barrientes is still a kid. He may be able to recover if he learns from this. He was really sloppy at times and got caught. I thought it was a good stoppage. Barrientes went down like a ragdoll. When fighers go down like that it can get real ugly.
Barrientes just doesn’t have it for the paid ranks. Maybe he was too young and thrown in too soon, and can rebound from this…hmmh…possibly, but doubtful. Nevertheless; can anyone name a fighter that went on to win a world title after being KTFO in their 4th or 5th fight? There may be some, but I can’t think of any. Pacqaio got clipped in his 12th and 28th fights before winning a title and going on to greatness.
DMV, Henry Armstrong comes immediately to mind. He became one to the 10 best fighters in the history of boxing, held 3 World Titles (when they meant something) simultaneously, and was in the inaugural class of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Armstrong was knocked out in his pro debut and lost 4 of his first 5 bouts.
You are correct Mr. Kielty. Thanks for enlightening me.
I understand what you’re saying, but it’s too early to write Barrientes off. The kid is talented, he’s only 18. They need to give him a handful of soft touches to get his confidence back and then once he’s comfortable step up the competition again. Kid got caught, he’ll learn from it.
I wonder if they’ll actually do the Morrell – Fedor Chudinov fight next. Chudinov is definitely limited, but it’s been almost five years from his last lost and he would be an interesting next step for the type of prospect that they’re pushing Morrell to be.
Three comments about yesterday’s card:
Morrell is already an A level fighter with just 4 fights under his belt. He’s polished, a good boxer, and a really hard hitter. Gavronski’s legs were gone after he got hit a couple of shots. I thought Morrell carried him at times by not pressing the action when he had Gavronski seriously hurt. The fight should have been stopped earlier.
Jesus Ramos is a future champ. He’s calm, poised, a tremendous body puncher, and is headed for the top sooner rather than later. I’ve been greatly impressed by him in his last two fights. He probably would have fought a better fight against Ugas than his uncle Abel did. He has the frame, punching power, and skill to deal with the top fighters in the welterweight division. He’s not even 20 yet, so he might end up a middleweight before too long. Of all the fighters on the card, he has the biggest upside.
Kirkland should retire. He can’t take a punch and will be seriously hurt if he continues to fight. He should have fought a non-puncher but it’s probably best that he see the light now and retire immediately rather than continue to take punishment in future fights.
Intertainment? Now do you believe God The Father is satisfied over the world? Any answers? The first person to catch Covid was a Father Preacher a fire has been burning A trillion seconds l personally believe We America is listening to God now that We upstaged donaldtrumpf the racist hater of American Women who won the Vote and put him on the Moon let’s use all the money and build a non wall prison for the worst people who show up and somebody please put California out side of Town…
@J a Walton-So are you saying you don’t think David Morrell Jr can beat Edgar Berlanga?
The end for kirkland