Benavidez Callout

“Yeah, I love that fight,” said Chelli to Ring Magazine when asked about Benavidez. “He seems like the Mexican monster, so I’ll stay away from him. I’m just kidding. I love it.”

“Give me anyone, man. Whoever. Benavidez didn’t do that to him. I did. Whatever I want next I’ll take. So, I’m happy.”

Benavidez defeated Morrell by unanimous decision earlier this year but was unable to stop him despite hurting him repeatedly during their fight. Chelli succeeded where Benavidez could not by breaking Morrell down late and finishing him in the 10th round.

“The first round I was like, ‘You know what? His punches don’t hurt and I’m making him miss,’” said Chelli. “I gave him one right hand, and I saw he went back a bit. I was like, ‘My right hand’s hurting him.’”

Chelli repeatedly caught Morrell with straight right hands after forcing him backward through the middle rounds.

“Let me cook him a bit, and then at the right time I’ll catch him.”

The victory came on short notice after Callum Smith withdrew because of injury. Chelli said Morrell’s team wanted the fight contested at 178 pounds and over 10 rounds instead of 12, but he accepted immediately.

“We gave everything in his favor because we believe in ourselves,” said Chelli. “I was trained, and that’s what matters.”

Long Shot Fight

A fight between Chelli and Benavidez still appears unlikely. Benavidez is pursuing a unification fight against Dmitry Bivol, who holds the WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight titles.

The upset stoppage win immediately pushed Chelli into bigger light heavyweight conversations after the biggest result of his career.