Veteran trainer Ronnie Shields helmed David Morrell's corner against Imam Khataev in their recent action-packed light heavyweight contest on The Ring III card at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing, New York, on July 12.

While Morrell won a 10-round split decision, many including the DAZN broadcast of Antonio Tarver and Sergio Mora, felt Khataev had done enough to emerge victorious, Shields didn't share their opinion.

"No, I don't see Khataev winning the fight. I thought David easily won the fight, like the scorecards dictated," Shields told The Ring. "We're all looking at the same thing but obviously we see different things. Boxing has been like that forever. He definitely won the fight. It was a really good fight, but I thought David won."

Entering the contest, Khataev was a minus-350 underdog. However, Shields always believed that didn't give enough credit to the Australian-based Russian, who was a standout amateur prior to turning professional.

"I thought Khataev was really good, [I] watched all of his fights that I could find, and I saw he was a really good fighter," said the renowned trainer. "I didn't think they [bookmakers] had it correct. Everybody was picking David to win, but I thought the kid was really good."

Shields concedes his fighter had to dig himself out of an early hole.

"I think the first two or three rounds he was [behind]," he said. "David was trying to feel him out, but when he came back to the corner I said, 'We need to back this guy up. We need to start throwing more punches.' And then he started doing that and I thought he made it easier on himself.

"Our game plan was to stay in the middle of the ring and then start backing him up. When David was backing him up, he was hitting him with good clean, long shots and I thought that was the way to do. He was doing it for a little while and then Khataev turned it around and started coming forward and when they met in the middle they were both going at it."

A fifth-round trip to the canvas did little for Morrell, but he showed grit and determination to come on strong in the second half of the fight.

"He got caught going backwards, what can I say, he lost his balance, he got up, he was OK," said Shields. "Actually, I thought he was winning that round. He came back to the corner, I told him, 'Don't worry about it, focus on the next round.' Which he did and he came out strong and he finished strong, which was great for him."

Entering the final round, Shields gave his charge very specific instructions.

"I felt the fight was close and I told David, 'Let's go out and win this last round,'" he said. "Just me looking at it and I'm not a judge, but I'm looking at it and I'm saying, 'This is a close fight, so I need you to go out and finish strong.' And he did that and that's how I think he pulled the fight out.

"I thought David was up but still didn't want to take a chance going into the last round. I thought he was a couple of rounds up."

At super middleweight, Morrell looked a force of nature. However, at light heavyweight he hasn't looked as impressive.

"He's still trying to get used to it," Shields said. "The thing about it, he's starting at the top, his first fight at light heavyweight was against this kid from Florida [Radivoje Kalajdzic] and then David Benavidez and now against Khataev and he's moving up fighting the best guys in the division besides the champions.

"He's fought three good guys already as a light heavyweight. That should let you know, he's one of the top light heavyweights because he's starting at the top. He's not going down from the bottom coming up."

Shields isn't expecting things to slow down and believes Morrell will be in a big fight next time out.

"I heard someone mention a fight for the WBO [Interim] against Callum Smith, and somebody said to Morrell would he fight Khataev again and he said, 'Yes,'" he said. "For me, I don't care. I'm confident either way David wants to go."