Behind on the scorecards, English light heavyweight titleholder Zak Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) scored an outstanding final round stoppage of two-weight world champion and The Ring’s No. 5-ranked light heavyweight contender David Morrell (12-2, 9 KOs).

"I said I’d shock the world, did I not? And I did it, I'm a man of my word," Chelli told The Ring after changing the course of his career.

A massive underdog before the opening bell, Chelli grew in confidence as the fight wore on.

Although Morrell seemed to have worked out the tricky Londoner and taken control of the fight during the middle rounds, he took his foot off the gas and Chelli began to find the mark more regularly with his looping overhand right. He hurt Morrell in the ninth and finished the fight in the tenth and final round with an accurate assault.

"The first round I was like, "You know what? His punches don't hurt and I'm making him miss,'" Chelli recounted.

"I gave him one right hand and I saw he went back a bit. I was like, "My right hand's hurt him. Let me catch him. Let me cook him a bit, then at the right time I'll catch him and let me help out the people who are betting on me [to get] a late round knockout.

"I wasn't surprised. You should see how I've been sparring. I’ve been knocking people out and sparring the same way I just knocked him out. Big right hand. I knew my right hand will hurt him. If you look at my biceps, they're like they've gone bigger because I've been training at light heavyweight for over a year now and feel proper grown into this weight class."

In April, Morrell had been due to fight WBO interim champion Callum Smith until a rib injury ruled the Liverpudlian out of the fight. He leapt at the chance to stay busy against Chelli but will now be ruing his lackadaisical approach.

As for Chelli, he is setting his sights on the biggest names in the light heavyweight division.

In February 2025, The Ring's No. 1-rated light heavyweight and recent unified cruiserweight beltholder David Benavidez got off the floor to outpoint Morrell over 12 competitive rounds. Chelli wouldn't shy away from a fight with the Mexican as he flickers between two weight divisions but will now find himself with an array of options.

"Yeah, I love that fight. He seems like the Mexican monster, so I'll stay away from him," Chelli laughed. "I'm just kidding, I love it. Give me anyone, man. Benavidez didn't do that to him, I did. Whatever Morrell wanted next I'll take. I'm happy.”