David Morrell Set to Face Zak Chelli May 9 in Manchester

Light heavyweight bout added to Wardley–Dubois card after Callum Smith fight collapsed

David Morrell is set to face Zak Chelli on May 9 in Manchester after his planned fight with Callum Smith fell through. The bout keeps Morrell active while the WBO interim title situation remains unresolved.

The bout is expected to be a 10-round light heavyweight contest on Queensberry’s Wardley vs. Dubois card, giving Morrell a fresh assignment. Rather than wait for that situation to clear, Morrell now looks set to stay active against Chelli (16-3-1), the current English light heavyweight champion.

The matchup gives the Manchester card another meaningful supporting bout and offers Chelli a major chance at home against a fighter viewed as one of the stronger names at 175 pounds.

Morrell (12-1, 9 KOs) is coming off a tough outing against Imam Khataev last summer and a loss to David Benavidez before that. He cannot afford to go 10 to 12 months without hearing a bell. Timing and distance are the first things to go when you’re idle, and Zak Chelli, while a domestic-level step down, is a live body who will force him to work.

Fighting in Manchester under the Queensberry banner is a smart strategic play for Morrell. The 175-lb division is currently anchored in the UK and Saudi Arabia. Getting visibility in the British market makes him a more marketable opponent for names like Anthony Yarde or even a rescheduled Smith fight later this year.

If Morrell obliterates Chelli, he remains the hot hand in the division, making it harder for the WBO to let the Smith situation linger without a resolution.

It may not be the title route first planned, but it is a practical move for a contender who needed a date more than another delay.

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