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Volume is the problem Morrell hasn’t solved
Smith has a good plan for attacking Morrell, based on his performance against David Benavidez last February. In this fight, Benavidez focused on punching volume throughout the 12 rounds. Morrell is not cut out for sustained punching, as he tires quickly after throwing shots. Thus, he was unable to match Benavidez’s production and was forced to cover while Benavidez unloaded.
Why Smith’s usual style won’t work here
Callum should focus on repetitive punching if he wants to emulate what Benavidez did against Morrell. If Smith fights like he usually does, focusing on loading up on single punches, he’ll fight in the style that Cuban-born Morrell does well against.
Smith, 35, is not young, and one wonders if he can change his game to make this fight Benavidez-esque so he can defeat Morrell with volume. Trying to change his typical fighting style to focus on increasing his production might be impossible for an older fighter like him.
Both fighters are coming off grueling competitions. Smith’s battle against Joshua Buatsi last November was a brutal one in which both guys traded hard punches for the full 12 rounds. In the end, Callum’s superior power and bodywork got the better of Buatsi. We don’t know what Smith was left with after this fight.
Covering up is not control
Morrell, 27, was forced to rally to defeat Imam Khataev by a 10-round split decision after being dropped in the fifth round in his last fight on July 12, 2025. In the fight, Morrell showed the same vulnerabilities he had in his loss to Benavidez. He often covered himself on the ropes, allowing the powerful Khataev to hit him at will with uncontested shots.
Although Morrell seemed to be blocking most of the punches, the image of Khataev raining down shots on him made it look like he was winning. As in the Benavidez fight, Morrell would occasionally go on the attack, lighting up Khataev to the point where he seemed on the verge of being knocked out.
Instead of Morrell finishing him off, he would step back and cover once more. It was difficult to determine whether it was a stamina problem or a lack of killer instinct. Regardless, this is the same problem Morrell showed against Benavidez and in his fight against Radivoje Kalajdzic. Morrell injured him early and backed away inexplicably.
