Supply teacher Zak Chelli joins Zuffa Boxing after Morrell KO: "anyone, anytime, anywhere"
The Fulham fighter knocked out David Morrell in the 10th round in May on two weeks' notice, and his Zuffa debut will be announced shortly.
Zak Chelli, the supply teacher from Fulham who knocked out David Morrell, has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
"I'm over the moon," Chelli told Sky Sports. He also said: "I want the top fights, I want the big levels, you know, the big names."
His Zuffa debut will be announced shortly, and he is targeting a return "before the end of the year". His fights will be shown on Sky Sports.
"I'm grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I'm proud to be in that category," Chelli said. "I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I'm ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I've proven that throughout my career."
Chelli took the Morrell fight on two weeks' notice and overcame an early deficit to knock out the Cuban in the 10th round at Co-op Live on 9 May, on the Wardley v Dubois card. Morrell had held WBA regular titles at 168lbs and 175lbs, and Sky Sports called the result one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing history.
After beating Morrell he said he would like to fight Callum Smith next and claimed "maybe he's scared". He has also said he does not view Ben Whittaker as his "competition", claiming he dropped the Olympic silver medallist during a past sparring session.
A former British and Commonwealth champion, Chelli won those belts by beating Jack Cullen. He joins a Zuffa light-heavyweight group that includes Radivoje Kalajdzic and Joe Ward, while fellow Londoner Denzel Bentley fights Shane Mosley Jr at the Copper Box Arena on 7 November at Zuffa Boxing 12, a move Eddie Hearn has criticised (read more).
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