Morrell meets Abel Sanchez’s Great Bear seeking a new coach

Probably David Morrell is visiting coach Abel Sanchez at his gym in Big Bear, California, to see if both are a good mix for a training change for the Cuban fighter.

Evaluation of Abel Sanchez’s training fit

Boxing Carlos Linares Internal report that Morrell looks to replace his instructor, Ronnie ShieldsHe has been working with them since 2023, in Houston, Texas. For the Morrell team with Sanchez to work, he must follow his corner instructions and achieve them. It is pointless for Morrell to change coaches to Abel if he is not going to follow his orders.

The former two-divisive world champion of Morrell (12-1, 9 ko) is trying to regain the form he had in his career before his last three disappointing performances against Imam Khataev, David Benavidez, and Radivoje Kalajdzic.

In each of those fights, Morrell seemed to lose concentration, just fighting briefly and struggling. Morrell showed mental failures in focusing in those competitions that must be installed if it is to be successful with heavy light weight.

Khataev bout revealed key weaknesses

At the last battle of Morrell, 27, against Khataev (10-1, 9 ko) on July 12, 2025, it was demolished in the fifth round and won what many boxing fans felt was a controversial decision of sharing 10 rounds.

During much of the fighting, Morrell created behind a high guard and would rest against the ropes, allowing Khataev to withdraw. He fought more like a sparring partner in these cases.

In the rounds of nine and ten, Morrell seemed to hurt Khataev, but unexplained back and cover rather than going for the end against the tired Russian fighter. It looked strange. In Morrell’s corner, one could see that he was getting strict directions from his coach, Shields. However, Morrell continued to follow the same pattern as he was in previous rounds, fighting occasionally and covering too often.

Benavidez Battle Result

Earlier this year, Morrell lost his lightweight ‘regular’ WBA heavyweight title to David Benavidez by unanimous decision of 12 rounds on February 1, 2025. As at the Battle of Morrell against Khataev, he covered for long periods, allowing Benavidez’s ‘The Mexican Monster’ with short punches, overwhelming him with shots. The scores were 118-108, 115-111, and 115-111.

When Morrell left his hands to go, he had hurt Benavidez in rounds 4 and dropped in Round 11. Once again, Morrell was not consistent with his crime and spent too much time covering. The result was that Benavidez won a remarkably easy decision against the more powerful Morrell. In retrospect, it was a fight that Morrell could have won had he matched the style of Benavidez’s non-stop punch with his higher power.

Strategic Case Returned to 168 LBS

One movement that Morrell should possibly do if he joins coach Abel Sanchez is to move back down to 168. He is better off a weight class for Cuba, given his method of fighting a litter. Its power is more tremendous in the mid -weight section higher than at 175. If Morrell is not going to change his style, it will not do well with light weight, as a more consistent offensive effort is needed to surpass this weight.

Analyst’s verdict: Can Sanchez re-ignite Morrell fire?

Working with Abel Sanchez would be the right coach for David Morrell to refocus and fight with more consistent aggression than he has shown in his last three fights. Abel forgives less for disengaged fighters, do not follow instructions, and do not strive to the full. That would be a problem for Morrell if he fails to follow Sanchez’s instructions.

Sanchez expects his fighters to put pressure and stay on top of their opponents. Abel’s past fighters have trained at his Big Bear gym, California at high altitude:

• Golovkin ‘GGG’ Genadiy
• Terry Norris
• Murat GasseeeI from
• Lupe aquino
• Orlin norris
• Miguel Angel Gonzalez

If the Cuban Morrell is willing to listen to Sanchez and follow his harsh discipline, he can recover what he has recently lost in his last three performances. But if Morrell continues to lose focus and do whatever he wants in rounds, joining Sanchez at Big Bear will not save his career. At 27, it is not too late for Morrell to transform his career to find the success he had in 168, but change will be needed.