Zak Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) produced one of the biggest upsets of 2026 by stopping David Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs) at 2:24 of Round 10 on Saturday night at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
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Referee Darren Sarginson stopped the fight after Chelli Morrell got stuck against the ropes and landed a series of heavy blows that badly injured the Cuban in the closing moments of the match.
Morrell appeared on track for a decision win for much of the fight. The Cuban southpaw controlled long stretches with his jab, movement and sharper combinations, while using his reach advantage to prevent Chelli from consistently sustaining offense in the early and middle rounds.
Chelli remained competitive
Chelli continued to push forward despite appearing at the back of the charts entering the final stages. The British fighter mixed in body shots, occasional counters and steady pressure as he tried to force Morrell into exchanges.
Although Morrell looked the sharper overall throughout much of the fight, Chelli never stopped pushing the pace and gradually found late opportunities.
Dramatic finish
The fight suddenly changed during the final round when Chelli connected with several heavy punches that visibly hurt Morrell. Chelli immediately attacked, backing Morrell to the ropes before trapping him in the corner under sustained pressure.
Morrell seemed unable to fully recover as Chelli continued to land clean shots, forcing referee Sarginson to step in and stop the fight at 2:24 of Round 10.
The stoppage instantly became the biggest win of Chelli’s professional career and a major setback for Morrell, who entered the fight as a heavy favorite and one of the more highly regarded light heavyweight contenders.
Big momentum shift
Morrell was trying to rebuild momentum after his loss to David Benavidez last year. Instead, the loss leaves fresh questions about his standing in the division after suffering another damaging loss in a fight many expected him to win comfortably.
For Chelli, the upset victory could dramatically change his standing in the light heavyweight division after the career-defining performance in front of a home crowd.
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Last updated on 2026/05/09 at 16:27
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