Ex-Chelsea star sheds fresh light on brawl with former Arsenal ace - 'Got a hiding'

This former Chelsea midfielder and first-team coach scrapped with a former Arsenal and Tottenham star and managed to come away victorious

Jody Morris claims his charity boxing fight against David Bentley last year was easier than the training. The ex-Chelsea ace bested the former Arsenal and Tottenham midfielder in Mayfair.

In October 2025, 10 retired footballers swapped boots for gloves at the Grosvenor Hotel in London. The charity boxing gala was organised by ex-Gunners goalkeeper Graham Stack and his Pro Project Promotions.

The headline event was Morris and Bentley's bout, with west London taking on the north. Morris, who played for the Blues for seven years and coached the first-team under Frank Lampard, was joined on the card by Curtis Davies, Paddy Kenny, Leroy Lita, David Noble, Anthony Gardner, Lee Trundle, Greg Halford and Marvin Elliott.

A staggering sum was raised for four different charities, and Morris has now opened up further about the victory as Arsenal and Chelsea prepare to do battle in the Premier League.

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"I think it was all right. I mean, the actual fight was easier than some of the sparring I had," said Morris, speaking on In The Mixer brought to you by Sky Bet. "I got a couple of hidings in sparring against a couple of people.

"I have sparred Darren Barker [former middleweight title holder]. But he was training me. Weirdly enough, I had sparred him years before, but he trained me for this fight."

Asked whether he'd make another boxing appearance in the future, Morris didn't mince his words. He replied: "No. It was one and done. 100 per cent."

Bentley was a great sport after being beaten by Morris via decision after three rounds. He said after the fight: "I feel great getting in the ring, fighting Jody, what a great guy he is.

"But I think I'm better at promoting boxing than I am actually boxing. I wanted to actually get in the ring, and it was about raising money for charity. That's what it's all about. Congratulations to Jody. Thank God I didn't go down, I wouldn't have got back up!"

Exactly £127,500 was raised from the gala. Money was split between Helping Hands in support of the Royal Free Charity (£25,500), Playskill (£25,500), The Willow Foundation (£51,000) and Sport in Mind (£25,500).

A second event is scheduled for 2026 on April 17 at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. A Night to Remember II sees Lee Trundle face Chris Iwelumo, Bradley Orr take on Carl Ikeme, and Adam Hammill fight former Tranmere Rovers captain Steven Jennings.

Ross McCormack will also face Matthew Kilgallon, while Ryan Cresswell competes against Carl Dickinson. The event's ambassadors and trainers include Jamie Carragher and Natasha Jonas.

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