Cuban sensation and unbeaten WBA Tremendous Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. will defend his title in his adopted hometown when he faces 168-pound contender Alantez Fox on Saturday, December 18 within the FOX PBC Struggle Night time primary occasion and on FOX Deportes dwell from The Armory in Minneapolis.
The printed begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and options thrilling rising unbeaten prospect Jose Valenzuela taking over light-weight contender Austin Dulay within the 10-round co-main occasion.
Tickets for the occasion, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Warriors Boxing, go on sale Tuesday, November 16 and could be bought by way of The Armory at http://ArmoryMN.com/ and thru Ticketmaster.
“David Morrell Jr. is rapidly changing into a fan-favorite at The Armory in his new hometown of Minneapolis, and he’ll look to proceed his stand up the tremendous middleweight division taking over the at all times powerful Alantez Fox on December 18,” mentioned Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “The Armory was rocking for David in June and he delivered a memorable first-round knockout for everybody watching. I count on one other unbelievable environment for this entire card, which additionally options the thrilling light-weight prospect Jose Valenzuela in his hardest check but in opposition to Austin Dulay. This can be a evening you gained’t need to miss dwell on FOX or in Minneapolis.”
Now based mostly in and coaching out of Minneapolis, Morrell (5-0, 4 KOs) has proven off the prodigious skills that made him a standout in Cuba’s iconic newbie scene since arriving stateside in 2019. Earlier than being lately elevated, the 23-year-old captured an interim title by dominating then unbeaten Lennox Allen in motion on FOX in August 2020. Most lately, Morell thrilled a packed Armory on June 27, electrifying the group with a primary spherical knockout over beforehand unbeaten Mario Cazares. On December 18, Morrell returns to headline on FOX for the third time in lower than a 12 months, with back-to-back primary occasion appearances going down at The Armory.
“I’m grateful to my entire staff for this chance to as soon as once more carry out in entrance of my followers at The Armory in Minneapolis,” mentioned Morrell. “We had an important evening there in June and we’ve been constructing on that each one coaching camp. I can’t wait to really feel the vitality of the followers once more and proceed to indicate why I’m a drive within the tremendous middleweight division.”
The 29-year-old Fox (28-2-1, 13 KOs) was unbeaten in his first 23 fights, transferring his approach up the middleweight division till dropping a 2017 bout by resolution to unbeaten champion Demetrius Andrade. Preventing out of Higher Marlboro, Maryland, he rebounded with three-straight victories earlier than shedding within the U.Ok. to Liam Williams in December 2019. Fox formally debuted at tremendous middleweight in December 2020 by incomes a unanimous resolution over Marcos Hernandez, earlier than most lately stopping Manny Woods in June at The Armory in Minneapolis.
“I’m excited to be combating for my first world title — it’s ‘SlyAza’ Fox on FOX!” mentioned Fox. “That is an early Christmas reward. Get your procuring achieved, get house and be prepared for a present. I at all times keep prepared and I’m going to ensure to take full benefit of this chance. I’ve been ready my entire life for this shot and I’m going to carry the title again house with me.”
Born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, Valenzuela (10-0, 6 KOs) now trains as a stablemate of unbeaten two-time world champion David Benavidez. The 22-year-old turned professional in 2018 and rode a five-bout knockout streak into his most up-to-date battle, which noticed him earn his first 10-round resolution in a victory over Deiner Berrio. Valenzuela will look to shut out his breakout 2021 marketing campaign with a fifth triumph this 12 months on December 18.
“I’m grateful to be on this huge stage and able to indicate off my skills for the world on FOX,” mentioned Valenzuela. “I’m getting higher and higher and increasingly harmful as I proceed to develop and study. Dulay is one other powerful opponent, however I’m going to be ready for something he tries to do within the ring. I’m working onerous day by day and I’m hungry to show myself once more on December 18.”
Dulay (14-2, 10 KOs) enters this battle the winner of three out of his final 4 bouts, as he seeks a career-best victory over Valenzuela on December 18. The 26-year-old most lately defeated Jose Gallegos by unanimous resolution in November 2020, placing him again within the win column after a call loss in opposition to former title challenger Diego Magdaleno. Preventing out of his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, Dulay’s solely different professional loss got here in opposition to unbeaten high tremendous featherweight Chris Colbert.
“I’m feeling actually sturdy coming off my leg harm and my motion and explosiveness is again and higher than ever,” mentioned Dulay. “I count on this to be an thrilling and extremely entertaining battle, as now we have some type similarities. I do know Valenzuela goes to be a sport opponent and he comes from a robust secure, however I’m trying to make use of this battle to restart my profession. He’s going to must cope with one of the best model of Austin Dulay on December 18.”
