“Everyone knows I won”
“My brother, everyone knows that I won that fight, and you also agree with it, you respect it, I see support from you, thank you for that,” Khataev posted.
Khataev lost a close 10-round split decision to Morrell in July 2025 in a fight that generated heated debate among fans due to the competitiveness of the contest and a fifth-round knockout scored by Khataev.
Saturday’s loss to Chelli reignited discussion about Morrell’s recent performances and whether warning signs had already appeared in earlier fights.
“I’m ready”
Khataev also made it clear that he would still consider a rematch with Morrell under the right circumstances, although he remains focused on his upcoming June 4 fight against Michael Diallo in Montreal.
“If people want, I’m ready for a good offer to play back, but now I’m not interested. I have a case on June 4,” Khataev posted on X.
The comments came after boxing journalist Mike Coppinger described Chelli’s knockout victory over Morrell as one of the biggest upsets of 2026.
Morrell entered the fight as a massive betting favorite before Chelli had him stopped after gradually breaking him down and taking advantage of the Cuban’s tendency to duck against the ropes under pressure.
Khataev’s comments quickly gained attention online as many fans were already calling the 2025 fight with Morrell one of the closest and most controversial decisions of Morrell’s career. With Morrell now coming off another damaging loss, the debate over his recent performances and long-term position at lightweight has heated up again.
