David Morrell vs. Zak Chelli: Betting Odds, Predictions, and Fight Preview

The biggest and most important fight of the weekend comes from the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. Two British heavyweights go toe-to-toe in the main event, as Fabio Wardley defends his WBO world title against former world champion Daniel Dubois. If the current champ retains the strap, he’ll move closer to a unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk.

• David Morrell has nine KOs from a dozen wins

• Zak Chelli won by a late stoppage in his last fight

• The Co-op Live Arena in Manchester plays host

The main event will attract a global audience as fans wait to see who will emerge as the main challenge to Usyk’s dominance. I have Dynamite Dubois as the value play here, and fancy the challenger to head back to London with the belt. However, I’ll focus this article on an intriguing bout from the undercard and a United States vs United Kingdom showdown.

David Morrell arrives from his base in Minnesota to face Londoner Zak Chelli in a contest scheduled for 10 rounds. Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for these warriors to showcase their talents to a huge audience, knowing a win would catapult them up the rankings. Who wins? Former professional boxer Frankie Monkhouse guides readers through the betting.

David Morrell vs. Zak Chelli Odds

Odds below are provided by BetMGM, one of our top-ranked boxing betting sites. Join BetMGM today with our bonus code WSNSPORTS and claim up to $1,500 back in bonus bets* should you lose your first wager. Get more key details on the BetMGM Bonus Code here.

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The Morrell vs Chelli odds posted above come from the BetMGM app and are correct at the time of writing. Please remember that boxing betting odds, like all forms of sports gambling, are subject to change. The offer you receive when placing your bet may differ from what was available when researching the contest. It’s always best to shop around for the highest odds.

As you can see from the odds displayed, traders working at BetMGM heavily favour the American fighter. The offer suggests anything other than a win for David would come as a huge shock. That’s fair, as the visitor arrives with quality and a strong reputation, but we know nothing is guaranteed in this game. Underdog Chelli will attract attention at the price.

Morrell may be the pre-fight favourite with all major sportsbooks, but there is more than one way to gamble on boxing. You can stick to the fight winner market and back the favourite with a large stake or chance the underdog for a small risk. If you’re after a value play, you’ll likely find something to catch your attention in the specials, including the method of victory.

Regular readers of my boxing betting previews and predictions for WSN know I love the method of victory. You must predict both the winning fighter and how they’ll achieve the result, such as Morrell to beat Chelli on points. Both parts of the bet must be correct to secure a profit. Studying the form of the fighters often leads to a strong prediction.

Morrell Form and Figures

David Morrell arrives in Manchester from Minneapolis with a professional boxing record showing 12 wins against one defeat. Nine of his victories came inside the distance, meaning he carries a fearsome 75% knockout average. Fans want to see him build on that with another stoppage, but Team Morrell know the result is more important than the performance.

Born in Santa Clara, Cuba, 28-year-old southpaw Morrell is ranked at number one in his homeland, second in the world behind Albert Ramirez, and above Britain’s Joshua Buatsi. Osvary was last seen in action beating Imam Khataev on points over 10 rounds in Queens, via a split decision. He lost the previous bout to David Benavidez on the cards.

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Chelli Form and Figures

All the hype pre-fight focuses on American David Morrell coming to the UK to dazzle British boxing fans. It could pave the way for a return against one of the division’s big names later this year. Zak Chelli hopes to spoil the party and force himself into title contention. A win over the world number two at light heavyweight would ensure Chelli grabs the headlines.

Chelli is a 28-year-old boxer from London ranked 15th in the United Kingdom and a lowly 64th in the world. That explains the huge gap between the rivals in the betting. Despite the underdog tag, Chelli brings 16 wins against three defeats and a draw. He has won eight by KO/TKO, with each of his defeats coming on the scorecards. Zak has never been stopped.

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Morrell vs. Chelli Prediction

If Morrell vs Chelli goes the way betting traders and the current rankings suggest, it should be an easy night’s work for the American fighter. Morrell wants to return to the US with 13 wins from 14 bouts, and I wouldn’t put anyone off supporting him. I expect Morrell to win, but can’t back him at the odds. You’d need to stake $1200 to win $100, and that’s too risky.

The odds will drive Morrell backers into the specials, and I am happy to follow. The BetMGM app offers a long list of boxing specials and betting markets. The total rounds removes the need to pick sides, with traders setting the line at 6.5 rounds. Will the bout go beyond that mark? I think so. You can bet on over 6.5 rounds at -125, and that’s much more like it.

Bet on over 6.5 rounds, and you’ll make a profit regardless of who wins and by which method. A KO/TKO win for Morrell in round seven pays the same as an upset point for Chelli. You’re only concerned with how long the contest lasts. A bet on over 6.5 rounds landed in each of Chelli’s last three bouts, and that’s also true of Morrel’s last three appearances.

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How to Watch Morrell vs. Chelli

• Location: Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, England.

• Date: Sunday, 09 May 2026

• Time: 21:00 CET

• Streaming: Live on DAZN