MANCHESTER, England – Zak Chelli had spent the past year wondering whether boxing was still worth it.
The English light-heavyweight champion has struggled for opportunities since winning that title in June 2025. He has balanced training with working as a supply teacher while trying to support his wife and child. On Saturday night at Co-op Live, however, he changed his life.
The little-known Londoner scored what is almost certain to prove the upset of 2026, when dramatically stopping David Morrell in the final round of their 10-round contest after trailing on the scorecards.
Few had given the 17-3-1 (11 KOs) Chelli much of a chance against one of the world’s leading light heavyweights. Morrell’s only previous defeat had come against the WBC champion David Benavidez in 2025, in a fight in which the Cuban even managed to score a knockdown before losing via unanimous decision.
Since then Morrell had defeated Imam Khataev and was expected to face Callum Smith later in 2026 after Smith withdrew with an injury from their date in April.
Chelli, meanwhile, was viewed as little more than a keep-busy opponent. He and his father and trainer Zakaria Chelli Snr regardless had other ideas.
“It went as I expected,” Chelli told BoxingScene afterwards. “People don’t believe it, but we planned this. Me and my father planned this. Make him miss and make him pay. We saw how he did with David Benavidez, we saw how he did with the Russian [Imam Khataev], and we knew he would get tired.”
The win is at the very least career-changing for Chelli, who has been struggling to secure fight dates. Outside of it the 27 year old works as a supply teacher and also coaches children with special needs.
“The kids will be watching,” Chelli said with a smile. “They even said, ‘Zak, if you lose, don’t come back’. I know they’re watching and I’m sure they’re proud of me. For a lot of people, this is entertainment. It’s just a fight. But to me, this is my life. This is food on the table for my wife and my kid.”
Chelli revealed he had previously considered walking away from the sport altogether after struggling to secure fights following his stoppage victory over Adam Hepple for the English title.
“For that English title fight, I barely made anything,” he said. “I actually had to pay out of my own pocket. Then for a whole year I was out, nothing coming in, and I was still training every day. My wife encouraged me to train, but myself, I was thinking, ‘What am I training for?’
“I’ve got to work, then finish work and go straight to training. I’m getting nothing out of it; I’m just losing money. But my dad always stuck by my side. He said, ‘No, you’re going to get an opportunity.’ The opportunity came.”
After earning the biggest win of his career, Chelli wants the biggest names in the division.
“Whoever David Morrell is meant to have next, give him to me,” he said.
That would likely mean a showdown with the former super-middleweight champion and reigning WBO interim light-heavyweight titleholder Smith.
“I’ve sparred him before and he knows I’ve beaten him up in sparring, so why not?” said Chelli.
Chelli is also open to facing Benavidez after doing what the Mexican-American could not by stopping Morrell.
“Morrell did pretty good with Benavidez, didn’t he?” Chelli said. “And I did better, so why not? I can most definitely [become world champion.]”
Chelli’s father, the former Italian light-heavyweight champion Zakaria Snr, already has an even bigger target in mind.
“[Saul] ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, if you come to light heavyweight, we go for Canelo,” Chelli Snr said. “Canelo beat all the British fighters. Okay, give him Zak. You cannot beat Zak, Canelo.”
