Morrell vs Chelli Predictions: Cuban former champion sharpens his tools

Two-weight WBA regular champion David Morrell makes his belated debut this Saturday, 9 May against Zak Chelli. The Cuban star had been set to contest Callum Smith’s WBO interim 175lb gong a few weeks back in Liverpool, before ‘Mundo’ pulled out injured. Queensberry were able to find a spot for the amateur standout on the Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois undercard at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. DAZN PPV and Ultimate screen the card live on their platform.

Read on for my Morrell vs Chelli predictions ahead of this intriguing contest.

Morrell vs Chelli Odds

Morrell comes in with world class pedigree, which accounts for the heavy 1/25 price in his favour. Chelli is priced at 10/1 while the draw is on the market at 22/1.

Morrell vs Chelli Fight Preview

Chelli deserves a lot of credit for taking on this assignment. The 28-year-old Londoner had been targeting a crack at British light heavyweight kingpin Lewis Edmondson for his next bout, with his pursuit keeping him out of the ring since last June. Instead, his first fight in 11 months comes against a decorated Cuban amateur who has held WBA regular baubles at two weights.

It is a brave man who signs on the dotted line to fight Morrell. The only man to defeat the Cuban in 21 fights is David Benavidez, who outpointed him in a WBC interim and WBA regular light heavyweight title unification in February of last year. 

As you will know, Benavidez moved up to cruiserweight and knocked out unified cruiserweight champ Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez in seven scintillating rounds last weekend. Morrell even knocked David down in a high-output contest before succumbing on the cards.

To show the level that Morrell has been operating at, it feels pertinent to point out that this is only his second fight in six years where a world title has not been on the line. The 28-year-old from Santa Clara made six defences of his super middleweight WBA belt before moving up and out-scoring Radivoje Kalajdzic for the vacant light heavyweight version.

The main criticism of Morrell is that he has yet to do it against a truly elite fighter. The WBA regular belt is considered a tarnished route to a world title and the Youth World Championships gold medalist did not beat an incumbent champion for either gong.

But these are arguments for when he is in the ring with another fighter of Benavidez’s lofty standing. Morrell should have far too much seasoning for Chelli. 

The Brit is game, but has been beaten thrice. Kody Davies outpointed him in 2019, before retiring the following year to start his own construction business. Mark Jeffers handed him a decision defeat in an English title fight while Callum Simpson overwhelmed Zak at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley.

But Chelli has had plenty of success too. He avenged an early career draw with Jack Cullen, dethroning the then-British and Commonwealth super middleweight king. Zak also holds wins over the talented Germaine Brown and American hope Anthony Sims Jr. Not the rarefied area Morrell has breathed, sure. But it is a solid CV.

Chelli will be well aware this is a gamble. But show me a boxer who has reached the top without taking one. Morrell’s name on his record would transform this Londoner’s life. If that isn’t worth a shot, I don’t know what is.

Morrell vs Chelli Full Card

Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois

Jack Rafferty vs Ekow Essuman

David Morrell vs Zak Chelli

Liam Cameron vs Bradley Rea

Khaleel Majid vs Gavin Gwynne

Mike Perez vs Franklin Arinze

Javokhir Ummataliev vs Damian Drabik

Fawas Aborode vs Garth Noot

Bobbi Flood vs Nathan Darby

Issiah Hamilton-Allen vs Connor Goulding

Bakhodir Jalolov vs Agron Smakici

Morrell vs Chelli Prediction

Morrell is no big puncher and Chelli has never been stopped. While Morrell is capable of forcing a finish through accumulation, I don’t think this will be that sort of fight. I can see the visitor boxing smartly and tidily, drawing Chelli into mistakes before seizing upon the resulting openings on the way to a win on the cards. Morrell on points is 11/4 if you fancy it.

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