Photo: Vincent Ethier – Imam Khataev
New York, New York! Imam Khataev (10-0, 9 KOs) is set to face David Morrell (11-1, 9 KOs) on July 12 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens.
Usually, the stadium named after the great American jazzman hosts tennis. But since entering the world of boxing, Turki Al-Sheikh has been seeing la vie en rose. His “Ring III” card promises a very different kind of spectacle than the US Open.
“Imam Khataev is going to New York to beat up Morrell,” said the Russian boxer’s promoter, Camille Estephan, when the fight was announced.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Imam Khataev and Camille Estephan
The main event? Berlanga vs. Sheeraz. The co-feature? A world title bout between Stevenson and Zepeda. Khataev vs. Morrell isn’t the headliner, nor is it a title fight. But make no mistake—it’s a major showdown in the Big Apple.
Once upon a time, Bob Dylan came to New York as The Complete Unknown, the title of the film about his life. Soon, Khataev will arrive as The Complete Underdog, the title of this piece. As very live underdog, he might even get a movie, someday, depending of the result on July 12…
Photo: Esther Lin – David Morrell against David Benavidez (February 2025)
Credit Where It’s Due
A perfect record, the NABF title, and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics… That’s Imam Khataev—listed as a more than 4-to-1 underdog:
“Honestly, I always feel like the favorite. I’ve had 300 amateur fights—Morrell can’t surprise me. But he might be surprised on July 12,” Khataev says, via the powerful translation of Arthur Biyarslanov.
Photo: Noé Cloutier – Arthur Biyarslanov and Imam Khataev
Yes, in the amateurs, Khataev did it all. But to be fair, Morrell has the hype in the pros. He’s fought on FOX, Showtime, DAZN, and Prime Video. By his third fight, he was already an interim world champion. His only stumbling block came in his 11th outing, when he may have jumped the gun in challenging the massive and powerful “Mexican Monster,” David Benavidez…
Now, could it be Morrell’s turn to rush things, trying to be too quick and too big for Khataev? That’s what 3 out of 4 people seem to believe.
Photo: Mark Robinson – Imam Khataev against Durval Palacio (March 2025)
Throwback from Australia
But that doesn’t mean the 1 in 4 doesn’t know their boxing. Sure, EOTTM’s president says Khataev will “beat up” Morrell—but whether he’s right or wrong, he’s clearly biased. However, do you remember that the president of Matchroom once called Khataev “the future of the 175-lb division”?
Matt Casavant was in Australia and heard Eddie Hearn say it in person. There’s even photo evidence—with a koala. And the “handsome Eddie,” as Réjean Tremblay calls him, has no business or family ties to Khataev. He just knows his boxing.
Photo: Mark Robinson – Imam Khataev and Eddie Hearn
The Key to Victory
So how can Khataev win?
The fight will be broadcast on DAZN, not Punching Grace—so we won’t have the soothing voice of Nicolas Martineau or the “keys to victory” from Matt Casavant… but here on Punching Grace, you’ve got this article, where I can give you the key to victory.
Distance. That’s what EOTTM’s GM Antonin Décarie told me a few weeks ago at the Québec Open gala. It all comes down to managing range:
“Morrell will want to use his reach. Imam will want to close the gap. If Imam can apply pressure for 10 full rounds, Morrell will have serious problems. But Imam has to be perfect…”
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Imam Khataev and Antonin Décarie
A clear example: Claggett vs. Lopez. The Dragon applied pressure and threw volume for 12 rounds, enough to frustrate the champ—but lacked the power to shake or break him. Khataev, on the other hand, has enough power to drop 100 gorillas—he just needs the gas tank to keep it up for 10 rounds…
Massive Air Miles Points
But you have to know that Khataev has gone mile after mile to prepare for this fight. With his coach Anton Kadushin, the Chechen-born athlete—who usually trains Down Under—is now doing a full camp in the city of orange cones: Montréal.
That puts him in the same time zone as New York, and lets him spar with Montréal’s top dogs. Enter “Big Mo” Fendero, a southpaw like Morrell:
“I expect him to do well against Morrell. Quote me on that. Even in the amateurs, Khataev always did well against Cuban fighters. In the pros, if he’s in shape, I think he’s got the level to do it,” Fendero told me.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Moreno Fendero
That’s not just bias—BoxRec confirms Khataev has amateur wins over Arlen Lopez and Julio César la Cruz. Morrell in the pro ranks is a different beast. But as Fendero also says:
“Pro boxing is a little game…”
And so, Khataev will roll the dice on July 12.
