Zak Chelli has put pen to paper on a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing and will showcase his talents on Sky Sports, marking a significant step forward in his career following one of the most remarkable victories in recent boxing history.
According to Sky Sports, the Fulham-based fighter has secured the deal after producing a sensational knockout to defeat David Morrell, a two-division champion who had previously held WBA regular titles at both 168lbs and 175lbs.
The schoolteacher from London, who works as a supply teacher at a secondary school in Surrey, accepted the Morrell fight on just two weeks' notice against a heavily favoured opponent. He then authored one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing, overcoming an early deficit to force a stoppage in the tenth round.
Morrell's credentials were substantial heading into their clash. The Cuban light-heavyweight had previously gone the distance in a competitive encounter with the outstanding David Benavidez in a WBC Interim championship bout, establishing himself as a top-class operator at 175lbs.
According to CompuBox, Chelli landed 39 punches in the final two rounds, with the referee stopping the fight at 2:24 of round 10, cementing one of the most dramatic finishes of the year.
Chelli's professional record now stands at 17 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, with 9 wins by stoppage, demonstrating his growing consistency at the highest level.
The 175lbs fighter brings considerable pedigree to Zuffa's light-heavyweight roster. He is a former British champion, having defeated Jack Cullen to claim the Lonsdale belt and the Commonwealth title. He previously held the English super-middleweight title after beating Germaine Brown in 2022, and also recorded a notable victory over highly-touted American Anthony Sims Jr.
Following a setback to Callum Simpson in a headline event at Oakwell stadium in Barnsley, Chelli demonstrated his resilience by knocking out Adam Hepple to win the English light-heavyweight title, showing the character that would later define his Morrell performance.
He now joins a competitive light-heavyweight stable at Zuffa Boxing that features Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, Joe Ward and other ambitious contenders looking to climb the rankings.
Chelli's ambitions
Speaking about his new deal, Chelli expressed his determination to seize the opportunity in front of him.
I'm grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I'm proud to be in that category,
he said.
I'm thrilled that my fights will once again be shown on Sky Sports. I've fought on Sky many times, and they've always treated me well.
The schoolteacher-turned-boxer made clear his willingness to face elite opposition as he targets a path to titles.
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.
What comes next
Chelli's Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced shortly, though no next fight had been scheduled as of early November 2026. The promotion has been active in assembling a strong roster, with other recent signings including middleweight world title challenger Denzel Bentley and rising cruiserweight prospect Lucas Roehrig, both of whom are set to feature on Sky Sports cards.
