Exclusive: Checkmate and Chin Checks as Zak Chelli Banks on Chess to Sharpen Ring IQ

Zak Chelli has shed light on the bizarre hobby he believes can breathe new life into his career.

The Londoner, who meets Adam Hepple for the English light-heavyweight title later this month, has not fought since surrendering the British and Commonwealth belts to new European champion Callum Simpson last summer.

Although Chelli hopes that moving up to 175lbs will prove beneficial, he also revealed how a strange game popular in student circles could also help to sharpen his boxing intelligence.

“There’s this thing called ‘Chess Boxing’ which seems pretty fun,” Chelli said, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“What you do is play a round of each. So basically you either get knocked out or you lose at chess. It goes on and on like that, swapping between the two."

“It’s not going to be massive to take the country by storm, I don’t imagine. But people do play it, often at university.”

Despite securing seven of his 15 victories inside the distance and having never been stopped as a professional, Chelli is a cerebral rather than explosive performer; preferring to rely on brain, not brawn, to pick apart opponents.

BUSINESS BRAIN

Indeed, he gained a degree in business, marketing and management from the University of Surrey before gaining employment as a substitute teacher during the Covid-19 lockdown.

“I used to be a part of the chess club at school and I really enjoyed it,” Chelli continued. 

“It’s good for your thought process, because it’s big on tactics and strategy."

"You get your tactics devised in your head, plan ahead, try and interpret and predict your opponent’s moves before pinning them in a dead corner and taking their queen."

“Boxing is exactly the same. When you get to this level, it’s not enough to just go out there all guns blazing. You’ve got to think about what you are doing and have everything mapped out."

"It’s a very mentally demanding sport and the penalty for losing your concentration or not being clever enough can be pretty brutal."

“Sometimes, every now and then, I’ll have a game of chess and I think it’s a good habit to be in.”

SET BACK

Aged 27, the defeat to Simpson proved a big set back for Chelli who has been forced to watch the Barnsley based super-middleweight move onto the cusp of a world title challenge since then. 

But a win over Hepple, at the York Hall on June 27th, will propel him back into the frame for a shot at another Lonsdale belt. Hepple (5-2) will start the bout as the underdog after losing two of his last three outings - to Reece Farnhill and Brad Rea - and by virtue of Chelli’s hometown advantage.

Despite hailing from Fulham, Chelli has adopted Queens Park Rangers as his football team of choice and hopes followers of The Hoops get behind his latest bid for glory.

“I’ve been to Chelsea, who also play in Fulham quite a bit,” he explained. “I like them too, of course. But every time I’ve been invited to Loftus Road, they’ve made a real fuss and been great to me. You don’t forget that and so that’s who I really look towards now.”