David Morrell Delivers KO In Showtime Main Event

Saturday night Minneapolis’ adopted son and super middleweight contender David Morrell showed flashes of his superstar potential, bloodying and battering mandatory challenger Aidos Yerbossynuly over 12 rounds before closing the show in emphatic fashion to defend his WBA “regular” super middleweight title Saturday night.

Morrell finished things dramatically in the final minute of the 12th via TKO in the main event on Showtime from The Armory in Minneapolis in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions,

THE PREDATOR BECAME THE PREY 😈@OsvaryJ knocks out Yerbossynuly in round 12 to stay unbeaten 🔥#MorrellYerbossynuly pic.twitter.com/5DNGM1ywpV

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 6, 2022

“Thank you everybody in Minnesota for coming to support me,” Morrell said through an interpreter in the ring.

“Thank you to my family, my team, everybody. I’m so excited, man. I told everyone at the press conference that the fight is mine. I saw he was hurt at that moment and then the results came in, that knockdown came. A knockout is a knockout, so if it’s in the eighth or 12th round, it’s a knockout anyways.”

Morrell (8-0, 7 KOs) wasn’t satisfied with just winning on the scorecards, as he pressed to extend his four-fight KO streak and put an exclamation mark on his performance. With just forty seconds left in the fight, Morrell did exactly that. The 24-year-old Cuban, who now lives and fights out of Minneapolis, flattened Yerbossynuly (16-1, 11 KOs) with a straight left hand followed by a right hook, sending the lively crowd at The Armory into a frenzy.

It was the second time in the round that Yerbossynuly was dropped after a straight left hand sent him to the canvas for the third time in his career.

In a fight where over 1,100 combined punches were thrown, the southpaw Morrell, who showed a diverse offensive arsenal and also dazzled with his flashy footwork and defense, landed 39 percent of his punches and 47 percent of his power punches. He landed 64 more jabs and 91 more power punches than the game Yerbossynuly, who showed both skills and guts. Morrell’s 54 body punches landed was also a career-high.

“I don’t think anyone is scared of me, I respect everyone in this division,” said Morrell, looking ahead to what could come next. “I do know they are aware of me They know exactly who David Morrell is and that he’s coming for it all. I want David Benavidez, but I don’t care. I’m ready for everybody.”

Following the bout, Yerbossynuly was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation.

Mendoza also got KO in co-feature

In the co-main event, late replacement Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) seized his opportunity and delivered a stunning fifth-round KO over former unified world champion Jeison Rosario (23-4-1, 17 KOs) in a performance that Mendoza described as career-altering. The 27-year-old Rosario announced his retirement following the fight.

“They thought I was a fill in,” said the 28-year-old Mendoza, who took the fight on ten days’ notice after Yoelvis Gomez suffered an injury. “I’ve been in the gym for seven months straight since I fought on March 26. This was anything but a last-minute call.”

Thirty-five seconds into the fifth stanza, Mendoza landed a vicious right uppercut that sent Rosario to the canvas for the second time in the fight. Rosario stumbled when attempting to rise, prompting referee Mark Calo-Oy to put a stop to the action.

Saturday’s defeat marked the end of a splendid career for Rosario, who captured the WBA and IBF 154-pound belts by stopping Julian Williams in one of 2020’s biggest upsets.

“I think it’s time to say goodbye,” Rosario said. “I’m not fighting anymore. I’m going to retire. I have accomplished a lot, and it was good, but my career stops here. The most important thing is that I’m still healthy. I feel bad that I couldn’t give the Dominican people the result they hoped for, but I love you all and I thank you for all the support through the years.”