Zak Chelli Signs Multi-Fight Deal With Zuffa Boxing, Will Fight on Sky Sports

The teacher has a new school. Zak Chelli, the London supply teacher who knocked out David Morrell in May, has signed a multi-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing, and his fights will air on Sky Sports.

The deal

Chelli (17-3-1, 9 KOs) joins Zuffa's light heavyweight roster. His Zuffa debut will be announced shortly, according to both Zuffa and Sky Sports.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I'm proud to be in that category," Chelli said. "I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I'm ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere."

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The Morrell shock

Chelli took the Morrell fight on two weeks' notice as a heavy underdog. He hurt the two-division titlist in the ninth and finished him with a right hand in the 10th. He's a former British, Commonwealth and English champion at super middleweight and won the English title in his first fight at 175.

Why he left Queensberry

By Chelli's account, Queensberry broke a promise. He said he was told he would get an interim world title fight against Willy Hutchinson or Joshua Buatsi after beating Morrell. "They promised me Willy Hutchinson or Josh Buatsi for an interim world title, either the WBC or WBO," Chelli told DAZN News. Instead, Buatsi and Hutchinson were matched with each other. Chelli said he asked to be released and declared himself a free agent. That is his version; Queensberry's side was not part of the reports we reviewed.

Kimster's take: Buatsi-Hutchinson 2 is this week (our fight-week preview). Chelli now has a promoter, a broadcaster and a grudge. That's a dangerous combination at 175.

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