David Morrell says he expects to be fully prepared for Zak Chelli when the two light heavyweights meet tonight in Manchester.
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Morrell admitted he was not overly familiar with Chelli before the fight was finalized, but the Cuban contender says his team quickly began studying footage and highlights once the matchup became official.
Morrell Studying Chelli
“We got familiar with him once his name got brought up as a possible opponent,” said Morrell to Boxingscene.
“We’ve seen some films here and there and watched some highlights but by the time the fight comes I will know his every move,” Morrell said.
The former interim champion enters the fight carrying a 12-1 record with nine knockouts. Morrell remains one of the more experienced contenders at light heavyweight despite having only 13 professional fights.
His only defeat came against David Benavidez last year, but Morrell believes the difficult fights early in his career have accelerated his development.
“I Haven’t Been Taken Out Of The Fire”
“I’m a hundred percent happy with the way my career has moved.
“In my third fight, I fought for the WBA title, and by my 11th fight, I was fighting Benavidez. I haven’t been taken out of the fire,” Morrell said.
Morrell also pointed toward the lessons he learned while adjusting to the light heavyweight division against experienced opposition.
Lessons At 175
“The first thing was adjusting to the weight at 175.
“Then also, coming out of those fights, I learned how important it was to stay focused to fight at that level. The focus through the fight is important, to stay cool, stick to your game plan and not get into your emotions,” Morrell said.
Tonight’s fight gives Morrell another chance to build momentum in the division while continuing his first extended run fighting in the United Kingdom. A victory tonight would quickly move Morrell closer toward another significant light heavyweight fight.
Last Updated on 2026/05/09 at 1:48 PM
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