Just spoke to Don King, he remains confused, hurt and saddened by his fighter Noel Mikaelian turning to Zuffa match vs. Jai Opetaia under advisement of Mikaelian manager when King had David Benavidez fight ready. Quoted O’Jays song: “They smile in your face — the back stabbers.”
Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
‘I can’t wait forever’: Noel Mikaelian talks about progressing his career despite promotional turmoil
Noel Mikaelian gets hit next opportunity on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn undercard.
Noel Mikaelian sits down with Ring Magazine to talk about the state of his career and upcoming fight against Jai Opetaia. Notably, Mikaeliean is forced to confront how he ended up in promotional turmoil with Don King and how he’s now trying to move forward. Check out some excerpts with the full video interview below.
Mikaelian on his inactivity and promotional issues with Don King
“In recent years during COVID and all these promotional issues, it’s not only on the fighters. The promoters have to make the fights happen and the promoters have the obligation to loyal contracts. They always ask the fighters to be loyal, but most of the time the promoters aren’t loyal to the fighters, honoring their fights. That was the reason why I was so long inactive, yet I tried to accomplish and get the best opportunities for myself. And, yeah, recently I had a lot of problems and struggles with Don King and everybody who’s in boxing knows how difficult it can be dealing with Don King.
“And I have now hired a very good manager…and he is doing an excellent job and now have the rights to solicit third party opportunities and that’s how we made this [Opetaia] fight happen.”
On not accepting a fight with David Benavidez
“I never seen a bona fide offer from their side. And with Don King, he’s an old school promoter. He’s receiving a contract and then they go into a dark room, decide what they pocket in their pockets, and they come out and tell the fighter ‘you’re just get this lump sum of this fight’ but you never know what is the steak on the table. So, that’s actually against the Muhammad Ali Act.
“So with the Benavidez fight, I agreed to it immediately and passed more than 60 days and I never received an agreement. Meanwhile they were talking to TKO since February already but they are withholding from me the conversations and we decided with my manager, we have to see what’s going on there to make a fight happen because otherwise if you leave it in their hands — I have to make a living, I have to fight. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. So, it’s either now or never.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight after this. The winner can fight Benavidez after in December or in January. The fight is not off the table.”
On why he signed an actual contract with infamous the Don King
“After the Briedis fight when I got robbed for the world title the first time…I got curious like ‘how does this work, why didn’t I get the decision?’ I was with the same promoter as he was and then I started to dig into how this boxing thing works. I don’t want to say ‘politics’ but you get what I’m saying.
“And then I was making it work for myself. I started to rebuild my career…Somebody told me how it works. ‘Don King has the champion, if you want to fight for the championship as a mandatory, the champion won’t fight you because you’re too strong [as a] voluntary. You are too high risk, low reward. So to do the mandatory position you have to sign with Don King.
“So then we met and he put the contract in front of me, ‘you’re signing this right now.’ I was like ‘no, I’m not’. I was there with my brother and he was checking all the legal stuff…He said ‘you sign this, you’re fighting for the world title against my champion.’ That’s how it happened. I only signed for that reason, to get the world title shot.”
Noel Mikaelian gets hit next opportunity on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn undercard.
Noel Mikaelian sits down with Ring Magazine to talk about the state of his career and upcoming fight against Jai Opetaia. Notably, Mikaeliean is forced to confront how he ended up in promotional turmoil with Don King and how he’s now trying to move forward. Check out some excerpts with the full video interview below.
Mikaelian on his inactivity and promotional issues with Don King
“In recent years during COVID and all these promotional issues, it’s not only on the fighters. The promoters have to make the fights happen and the promoters have the obligation to loyal contracts. They always ask the fighters to be loyal, but most of the time the promoters aren’t loyal to the fighters, honoring their fights. That was the reason why I was so long inactive, yet I tried to accomplish and get the best opportunities for myself. And, yeah, recently I had a lot of problems and struggles with Don King and everybody who’s in boxing knows how difficult it can be dealing with Don King.
“And I have now hired a very good manager…and he is doing an excellent job and now have the rights to solicit third party opportunities and that’s how we made this [Opetaia] fight happen.”
On not accepting a fight with David Benavidez
“I never seen a bona fide offer from their side. And with Don King, he’s an old school promoter. He’s receiving a contract and then they go into a dark room, decide what they pocket in their pockets, and they come out and tell the fighter ‘you’re just get this lump sum of this fight’ but you never know what is the steak on the table. So, that’s actually against the Muhammad Ali Act.
“So with the Benavidez fight, I agreed to it immediately and passed more than 60 days and I never received an agreement. Meanwhile they were talking to TKO since February already but they are withholding from me the conversations and we decided with my manager, we have to see what’s going on there to make a fight happen because otherwise if you leave it in their hands — I have to make a living, I have to fight. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. So, it’s either now or never.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight after this. The winner can fight Benavidez after in December or in January. The fight is not off the table.”
On why he signed an actual contract with infamous the Don King
“After the Briedis fight when I got robbed for the world title the first time…I got curious like ‘how does this work, why didn’t I get the decision?’ I was with the same promoter as he was and then I started to dig into how this boxing thing works. I don’t want to say ‘politics’ but you get what I’m saying.
“And then I was making it work for myself. I started to rebuild my career…Somebody told me how it works. ‘Don King has the champion, if you want to fight for the championship as a mandatory, the champion won’t fight you because you’re too strong [as a] voluntary. You are too high risk, low reward. So to do the mandatory position you have to sign with Don King.
“So then we met and he put the contract in front of me, ‘you’re signing this right now.’ I was like ‘no, I’m not’. I was there with my brother and he was checking all the legal stuff…He said ‘you sign this, you’re fighting for the world title against my champion.’ That’s how it happened. I only signed for that reason, to get the world title shot.”
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Mikaelian 'never' received contract after accepting Benavidez bout
Noel Mikaelian initially agreed to a cruiserweight title unification bout against David Benavidez.
Over two months elapsed, and Mikaelian hadn’t heard anything back from Benavidez’s team or received a “bona fide offer.” Needing a fight sooner rather than later, the WBC champion instead pivoted to a bout with Jai Opetaia, The Ring champion.
Mikaelian will face Opetaia in a 12-round bout, the co-feature before Ryan Garcia encounters Conor Benn on September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and on DAZN Pay-Per-View and DAZN Ultimate in the UK and Ireland.
“With the Benavidez fight, I agreed to it immediately, and [more than] 60 days [passed],” Mikaelian told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger. “I never received an agreement. … [My manager Anthony Girges] decided we have to see what’s going on there to make a fight happen. I have to make a living. I have to fight. I have to make a career. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. It’s either now or never.”
The 35-year-old Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5-ranked cruiserweight contender, said he is still willing to face Benavidez, who holds the WBA and WBO belts. Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), of Phoenix, Arizona, is The Ring’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.
Mikaelian, of Yerevan, Armenia, was ordered to face Benavidez by the WBC, though he contends that he is due a voluntary defense, which he would make against Australia’s Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs).
It is rare for a champion to be ordered by a sanctioning body to face the owner of another governing organization’s belt. It occurred in part because Benavidez’s handlers petitioned the WBC on his behalf.
Mikaelian could be stripped by the WBC for moving forward with this bout against Opetaia.
Benavidez, 29, also holds the WBC light heavyweight title. He became a unified cruiserweight champion with a dominant sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight happen after this,” Mikaelian said. “The winner can fight Benavidez afterwards in December or in January. The fight is not off the table, but I can’t wait for Benavidez the entire year to fight him.”
December 12 was the proposed date for the Benavidez-Mikaelian match to take place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, near Phoenix.
Mikaelian reclaimed his WBC title via a unanimous decision in a rematch with Badou Jack on December 13 in Los Angeles. Jack won their first bout by a majority decision in May 2025.
Opetaia beat Atlanta’s Brandon Glanton in a one-sided unanimous decision to retain The Ring belt March 8 in Las Vegas. After the win, the Sydney native was stripped of his IBF title for a second time after the New Jersey-based sanctioning body cited an issue with Opetaia and Glanton fighting for the Zuffa belt and stated it does not recognize that title.
Opetaia’s team took legal action by suing the IBF on July 14, when his attorney filed a 123-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Opetaia, 31, seeks reinstatement as IBF champion and believes the IBF stripped him in retaliation for signing with Zuffa Boxing, an emerging promotional company in which Ring owner Turki Alalshikh has made a significant financial investment.
Opetaia also believes the IBF had no plans of sanctioning his bout against Glanton before he sent a $73,000 sanctioning fee that was promptly returned.
As much as he still wants to box Benavidez, Mikaelian realizes he’ll have his hands full with Opetaia.
“I think Jai is a very great fighter,” Mikaelian said. “He has been IBF world champion. [He] legitimately beat Mairis Briedis in two tough fights. He’s a champion for a reason, as I am, so it’s both champions colliding.
“I can’t underestimate him, and I won’t underestimate him. I have a lot of respect for him. Great fighter, good technique, good in-and-out movement, strong southpaw, young and ambitious. [He’s] very dangerous.”
Noel Mikaelian initially agreed to a cruiserweight title unification bout against David Benavidez.
Over two months elapsed, and Mikaelian hadn’t heard anything back from Benavidez’s team or received a “bona fide offer.” Needing a fight sooner rather than later, the WBC champion instead pivoted to a bout with Jai Opetaia, The Ring champion.
Mikaelian will face Opetaia in a 12-round bout, the co-feature before Ryan Garcia encounters Conor Benn on September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and on DAZN Pay-Per-View and DAZN Ultimate in the UK and Ireland.
“With the Benavidez fight, I agreed to it immediately, and [more than] 60 days [passed],” Mikaelian told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger. “I never received an agreement. … [My manager Anthony Girges] decided we have to see what’s going on there to make a fight happen. I have to make a living. I have to fight. I have to make a career. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. It’s either now or never.”
The 35-year-old Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5-ranked cruiserweight contender, said he is still willing to face Benavidez, who holds the WBA and WBO belts. Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), of Phoenix, Arizona, is The Ring’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list.
Mikaelian, of Yerevan, Armenia, was ordered to face Benavidez by the WBC, though he contends that he is due a voluntary defense, which he would make against Australia’s Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs).
It is rare for a champion to be ordered by a sanctioning body to face the owner of another governing organization’s belt. It occurred in part because Benavidez’s handlers petitioned the WBC on his behalf.
Mikaelian could be stripped by the WBC for moving forward with this bout against Opetaia.
Benavidez, 29, also holds the WBC light heavyweight title. He became a unified cruiserweight champion with a dominant sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 at T-Mobile Arena.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight happen after this,” Mikaelian said. “The winner can fight Benavidez afterwards in December or in January. The fight is not off the table, but I can’t wait for Benavidez the entire year to fight him.”
December 12 was the proposed date for the Benavidez-Mikaelian match to take place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, near Phoenix.
Mikaelian reclaimed his WBC title via a unanimous decision in a rematch with Badou Jack on December 13 in Los Angeles. Jack won their first bout by a majority decision in May 2025.
Opetaia beat Atlanta’s Brandon Glanton in a one-sided unanimous decision to retain The Ring belt March 8 in Las Vegas. After the win, the Sydney native was stripped of his IBF title for a second time after the New Jersey-based sanctioning body cited an issue with Opetaia and Glanton fighting for the Zuffa belt and stated it does not recognize that title.
Opetaia’s team took legal action by suing the IBF on July 14, when his attorney filed a 123-page complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. Opetaia, 31, seeks reinstatement as IBF champion and believes the IBF stripped him in retaliation for signing with Zuffa Boxing, an emerging promotional company in which Ring owner Turki Alalshikh has made a significant financial investment.
Opetaia also believes the IBF had no plans of sanctioning his bout against Glanton before he sent a $73,000 sanctioning fee that was promptly returned.
As much as he still wants to box Benavidez, Mikaelian realizes he’ll have his hands full with Opetaia.
“I think Jai is a very great fighter,” Mikaelian said. “He has been IBF world champion. [He] legitimately beat Mairis Briedis in two tough fights. He’s a champion for a reason, as I am, so it’s both champions colliding.
“I can’t underestimate him, and I won’t underestimate him. I have a lot of respect for him. Great fighter, good technique, good in-and-out movement, strong southpaw, young and ambitious. [He’s] very dangerous.”
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
WBC demand Noel Mikaelian make his position clear as Zuffa's Jai Opetaia looms
The WBC has sent a formal letter to Noel Mikaelian promoter Don King, asking the fighter to commit to either moving toward a Zuffa Boxing match versus that promotion’s cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia or accept his WBC title defense versus unified champion David Benavidez.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told BS he did not attach a firm deadline for King and Mikaelian to respond, but he made it clear Armenia’s Mikaelian, 28-3 (12 KOs), is subject to being stripped of his belt.
Zuffa Boxing has already announced Mikaelian will fight Australia’s former IBF champion Opetaia, 30-0 (23 KOs), on September 12 as the Las Vegas co-main event to the WBC welterweight title defense by Ryan Garcis versus Zuffa’s Conor Benn of England.
Sulaiman and Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz scoffed at those criticizing Benavidez’s ability to elevate from WBC light-heavyweight champion to Mikaelian’s mandatory contender in the division above.
The WBC and other sanctioning bodies, including the WBO, will allow a champion from one division to petition to immediately contend for the belt one weight class above or below.
The WBO previously did something similar, moving its former lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis to No. 1 welterweight contender.
Zuffa announced Opetaia-Mikaelian just as King and Lewkowicz struck a deal for a Mikaelian title defense versus Phoenix’s Benavidez in December in Glendale, Arizona.
Mikaelian is currently in training for Opetaia, and Benavidez Tuesday posted on social media that his next fight will be announced soon, likely for the WBC cruiserweight title versus interim beltholder Michal Cieslak.
The WBC has sent a formal letter to Noel Mikaelian promoter Don King, asking the fighter to commit to either moving toward a Zuffa Boxing match versus that promotion’s cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia or accept his WBC title defense versus unified champion David Benavidez.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told BS he did not attach a firm deadline for King and Mikaelian to respond, but he made it clear Armenia’s Mikaelian, 28-3 (12 KOs), is subject to being stripped of his belt.
Zuffa Boxing has already announced Mikaelian will fight Australia’s former IBF champion Opetaia, 30-0 (23 KOs), on September 12 as the Las Vegas co-main event to the WBC welterweight title defense by Ryan Garcis versus Zuffa’s Conor Benn of England.
Sulaiman and Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz scoffed at those criticizing Benavidez’s ability to elevate from WBC light-heavyweight champion to Mikaelian’s mandatory contender in the division above.
The WBC and other sanctioning bodies, including the WBO, will allow a champion from one division to petition to immediately contend for the belt one weight class above or below.
The WBO previously did something similar, moving its former lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis to No. 1 welterweight contender.
Zuffa announced Opetaia-Mikaelian just as King and Lewkowicz struck a deal for a Mikaelian title defense versus Phoenix’s Benavidez in December in Glendale, Arizona.
Mikaelian is currently in training for Opetaia, and Benavidez Tuesday posted on social media that his next fight will be announced soon, likely for the WBC cruiserweight title versus interim beltholder Michal Cieslak.
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Mikaelian doesn’t understand why WBC would strip him
Noel Mikaelian’s tumultuous saga with the WBC could take another turn.
Mikaelian currently holds the WBC cruiserweight title, but that could change ahead of September 12, when he faces The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The WBC named unified cruiserweight champion and WBC light heavyweight titleholder David Benavidez as Mikaelian’s mandatory challenger on May 29.
With Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) not facing Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) next, he could be stripped by the WBC. Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) versus Mikaelian is the co-main event to Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.
“I was not surprised anymore because it's boxing,” Mikaelian told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger of Benavidez being named as his mandatory challenger. “Every day there's something new. How can you put a champion who is currently also a champion in a different weight class [and] has the other titles in the weight class? They announce him to be mandatory.
“I never saw it before in my life, so I was surprised. Then they said, ‘Oh, if Noel is fighting Jai, and he gets stripped.’ Wait, I don't understand that. That's the fight to make, and why would I get stripped? I had a voluntary defense. They gave me a voluntary defense, and it didn't happen until now, not because of my power, but because of my promoter and outside circumstances.”
It is rare for a champion to be ordered by a sanctioning body to face the owner of another governing organization’s belt. It occurred, in part, because Benavidez’s handlers petitioned the WBC on his behalf.
In Mikaelian's first reign as the WBC cruiserweight champion, he was eventually named the “Champion in Recess” after an injury and promotional issues with Don King, which caused multiple fight cancellations.
Mikaelian, The Ring’s No. 5-ranked cruiserweight, said he initially agreed to a bout with Benavidez, who is The Ring’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list. After not hearing back from them for over 60 days or receiving an agreement, he opted to pursue the bout with Australian Opetaia.
Mikaelian, 35, said he didn’t want to wait until December for his next fight. The Armenian reclaimed the WBC cruiserweight belt with a unanimous decision over Badou Jack in their rematch on December 13.
“I have to make a living,” Mikaelian said. “I have to fight. I have to make a career. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. It’s either now or never.”
Benavidez, 29, will likely face interim WBC cruiserweight titleholder Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) on December 12. The Phoenix, Arizona, native won the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a dominant sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.
If Mikaelian were to be stripped, the WBC title would likely be added to Benavidez-Cieslak, whether it’s vacant or Cieslak is elevated to full champion.
Cieslak, 37, is The Ring’s No. 4-ranked cruiserweight. The Polish cruiserweight won the interim WBC title with a fourth-round stoppage of former light heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal in June 2024.
Mikaelian maintained he’d still be willing to face Benavidez, and that he should be next for the winner of his bout against Opetaia, who last fought on March 8, winning a one-sided unanimous decision over Brandon Glanton.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight happen after this,” Mikaelian said. “The winner can fight Benavidez afterwards in December or in January. The fight is not off the table.”
Noel Mikaelian’s tumultuous saga with the WBC could take another turn.
Mikaelian currently holds the WBC cruiserweight title, but that could change ahead of September 12, when he faces The Ring cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The WBC named unified cruiserweight champion and WBC light heavyweight titleholder David Benavidez as Mikaelian’s mandatory challenger on May 29.
With Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) not facing Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) next, he could be stripped by the WBC. Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) versus Mikaelian is the co-main event to Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The card will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and on DAZN PPV in the UK and Ireland.
“I was not surprised anymore because it's boxing,” Mikaelian told The Ring’s Mike Coppinger of Benavidez being named as his mandatory challenger. “Every day there's something new. How can you put a champion who is currently also a champion in a different weight class [and] has the other titles in the weight class? They announce him to be mandatory.
“I never saw it before in my life, so I was surprised. Then they said, ‘Oh, if Noel is fighting Jai, and he gets stripped.’ Wait, I don't understand that. That's the fight to make, and why would I get stripped? I had a voluntary defense. They gave me a voluntary defense, and it didn't happen until now, not because of my power, but because of my promoter and outside circumstances.”
It is rare for a champion to be ordered by a sanctioning body to face the owner of another governing organization’s belt. It occurred, in part, because Benavidez’s handlers petitioned the WBC on his behalf.
In Mikaelian's first reign as the WBC cruiserweight champion, he was eventually named the “Champion in Recess” after an injury and promotional issues with Don King, which caused multiple fight cancellations.
Mikaelian, The Ring’s No. 5-ranked cruiserweight, said he initially agreed to a bout with Benavidez, who is The Ring’s No. 1 contender in the light heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions and No. 5 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list. After not hearing back from them for over 60 days or receiving an agreement, he opted to pursue the bout with Australian Opetaia.
Mikaelian, 35, said he didn’t want to wait until December for his next fight. The Armenian reclaimed the WBC cruiserweight belt with a unanimous decision over Badou Jack in their rematch on December 13.
“I have to make a living,” Mikaelian said. “I have to fight. I have to make a career. I can’t wait forever. I’m already getting gray hair. It’s either now or never.”
Benavidez, 29, will likely face interim WBC cruiserweight titleholder Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) on December 12. The Phoenix, Arizona, native won the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a dominant sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas.
If Mikaelian were to be stripped, the WBC title would likely be added to Benavidez-Cieslak, whether it’s vacant or Cieslak is elevated to full champion.
Cieslak, 37, is The Ring’s No. 4-ranked cruiserweight. The Polish cruiserweight won the interim WBC title with a fourth-round stoppage of former light heavyweight titleholder Jean Pascal in June 2024.
Mikaelian maintained he’d still be willing to face Benavidez, and that he should be next for the winner of his bout against Opetaia, who last fought on March 8, winning a one-sided unanimous decision over Brandon Glanton.
“We can still make the Benavidez fight happen after this,” Mikaelian said. “The winner can fight Benavidez afterwards in December or in January. The fight is not off the table.”
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Developing I'm being told by sources that Zuffa Boxing has been hitting up matchmakers for a potential Noel Mikaelian replacement in case a Don King lawsuit becomes an issue. #GarciaBenn-
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
I assume it’s going ahead then..
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
I remember Noel and his brother Abel from when they were still using their stepdad's surname and training in Hamburg.
I also remember Noel getting robbed in Poland and you can make a case for him beating Briedis and Jack in the first fight. He should be undefeated really.
He's really not a great puncher and struggled with southpaws in the Hammer Gym days but I believe he can surprise Opetaia. It's a very annoying style to box against.
I also remember Noel getting robbed in Poland and you can make a case for him beating Briedis and Jack in the first fight. He should be undefeated really.
He's really not a great puncher and struggled with southpaws in the Hammer Gym days but I believe he can surprise Opetaia. It's a very annoying style to box against.
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
He's never been stopped, do you think Jai can hurt him?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑07 Sep 2026, 17:59 I remember Noel and his brother Abel from when they were still using their stepdad's surname and training in Hamburg.
I also remember Noel getting robbed in Poland and you can make a case for him beating Briedis and Jack in the first fight. He should be undefeated really.
He's really not a great puncher and struggled with southpaws in the Hammer Gym days but I believe he can surprise Opetaia. It's a very annoying style to box against.
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Hard to say. I've never seen him hurt and he rarely gets hit clean. Briedis couldn't touch him and that was prime Briedis, the guy who gave Usyk hell and went on to win the second WBSS.
And Opetaia has shown defensive flaws before. He's very open to the right-hand counter after throwing while out of range, and he's been hurt because of it. Noel has a habit of repeatedly throwing the right hand when he sees an opening, so that could be dangerous for Jai.
The chances of Noel winning on points are higher than the chances of Jai stopping him in a fair world. But I'm also aware that Zuffa would never let Opetaia lose to a "nobody".
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
If I gave you a million pounds, you had to bet it on this fight and you could keep the winnings, who would you bet it on?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 13:43Hard to say. I've never seen him hurt and he rarely gets hit clean. Briedis couldn't touch him and that was prime Briedis, the guy who gave Usyk hell and went on to win the second WBSS.
And Opetaia has shown defensive flaws before. He's very open to the right-hand counter after throwing while out of range, and he's been hurt because of it. Noel has a habit of repeatedly throwing the right hand when he sees an opening, so that could be dangerous for Jai.
The chances of Noel winning on points are higher than the chances of Jai stopping him in a fair world. But I'm also aware that Zuffa would never let Opetaia lose to a "nobody".
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
I'd bet on Jai. Noel already has a history of losing fights he probably won on the cards, so against the bigger Zuffa name I'd trust the judges even less.keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 14:25If I gave you a million pounds, you had to bet it on this fight and you could keep the winnings, who would you bet it on?
But I'd never bet my own money on this fight. Makhmudov vs Allen was the last time I placed a huge bet: Arslanbek on points.
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
So there's no chance that Jai Opetaia wins the fight on merit?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 15:13I'd bet on Jai. Noel already has a history of losing fights he probably won on the cards, so against the bigger Zuffa name I'd trust the judges even less.keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 14:25If I gave you a million pounds, you had to bet it on this fight and you could keep the winnings, who would you bet it on?
But I'd never bet my own money on this fight. Makhmudov vs Allen was the last time I placed a huge bet: Arslanbek on points.
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Of course there is. But I think Noel being such a huge underdog is ridiculous. You make it sound like Jai stopping him is basically a foregone conclusion, is that your pick?keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 15:21So there's no chance that Jai Opetaia wins the fight on merit?
For the record, I picked Noel on points in the poll.
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Where did I "make it sound like Jai stopping him is basically a foregone conclusion"?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 16:34Of course there is. But I think Noel being such a huge underdog is ridiculous. You make it sound like Jai stopping him is basically a foregone conclusion, is that your pick?keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 15:21So there's no chance that Jai Opetaia wins the fight on merit?
For the record, I picked Noel on points in the poll.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
BREAKING: OPETAIA-MIKAELIAN IN JEOPARDY 
Don King has now issued a cease-and-desist letter to TKO Group and Zuffa Boxing demanding the Sept. 12 Jai Opetaia-Noel Mikaelian bout to be canceled. King insists that he has the exclusive promotional rights for Mikaelian and has not consented to the fight. If TKO/Zuffa do not comply, they may risk legal action by King for tortious interference.-
Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Don King issues cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa over Noel Mikaelian-Jai Opetaia fight
Veteran promoter Don King on Tuesday delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and parent company TKO Group Holdings attempting to stop King-promoted WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian from fighting in Saturday’s co-main event bout versus former IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
Calling the bout’s creation “indefensible” and “disturbing,” King attorney Alejuandro Brito wrote, “TKO/Zuffa’s actions are outrageous and a clear tortious interference with DKP’s agreement. Based on emails between you and DKP’s legal counsel, there is absolutely no doubt that TKO/Zuffa was, and is, aware that DKP is Noel’s promoter.
“I understand that you were personally involved in discussions with [King counsel] regarding a potential fight or multi-fight deal for Mikaelian, which would include a fight with Opetaia, and that no agreement was consummated.”
Zuffa Boxing officials did not immediately respond to Boxing Scene requests for comment on the cease-and-desist letter, but Mikaelian told Boxing Scene last week that his contract with King allows him to identify and agree to competing offers, and that’s what has happened here.
Mikaelian-Opetaia is positioned as co-main event to Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defense versus England’s Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Armenia’s Mikaelian won back the WBC cruiserweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Badou Jack in Los Angeles in December.
Expressing frustration that King didn’t move to make him a fight, Mikaelian and his advisor were in talks with Zuffa to stage a bout versus unbeaten Zuffa cruiserweight champion Opetaia.
The WBC then ruled Mikaelian must first meet unified 200lbs champion and WBC light-heavyweight titlist David Benavidez. When negotiations stalled, Mikaelian went back to Zuffa’s Opetaia deal, and the fighter told BS last week he was no longer fretting about being stripped of his belt.
That is expected to happen Saturday night when the first bell rings.
King’s legal team, of course, is working to stop the fight entirely.
“It is particularly disturbing to know that TKO/Zuffa’s COO, Harrison Whitman, and the head of TKO/Zuffa, Dana White, had at least
one virtual conference with DKP’s President, Don King … in an effort to secure a provision of services deal for Mikaelian, again which included a fight with Opetaia,” Brito wrote to a TKO Group Holdings senior vice president and general counsel.
“Although no deal was reached, it is indefensible for Zuffa/TKO to completely ignore the DKP agreement, the promoter-fighter relationship between DKP and Mikaelian, and circumvent DKP and engage the services of Mikaelian for the bout with Opetaia.”
Mikaelian’s contention that he and his advisor were empowered to make fights on their own are disputed by King attorney Brito.
“The DKP agreement grants Mikaelian the right to ‘discuss and explore’ other fight opportunities, but only in consultation with DKP and under no circumstance can Mikaelian enter into an agreement with another party for his professional services without the expressed consent and permission of DKP,” Brito wrote.
“TKO/Zuffa’s actions … [are] a clear tortious interference of the agreement. DKP does not and has not granted TKO/Zuffa permission to engage the services of its fighter, Mikaelian. To be unequivocally clear, TKO/Zuffa’s actions constitute a knowing, intentional and unjustified tortious interference with the agreement. Any contracts that Mikaelian has entered into or shall enter into for his professional services as a fighter, without the express, written consent of DKP are void.
“The announced September 12 bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia cannot go forward. TKO/Zuffa must immediately cancel the bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately.”
A legal official familiar with Mikaelian’s agreement with King said they do not expect the fight to be stopped.
Veteran promoter Don King on Tuesday delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and parent company TKO Group Holdings attempting to stop King-promoted WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian from fighting in Saturday’s co-main event bout versus former IBF champion Jai Opetaia.
Calling the bout’s creation “indefensible” and “disturbing,” King attorney Alejuandro Brito wrote, “TKO/Zuffa’s actions are outrageous and a clear tortious interference with DKP’s agreement. Based on emails between you and DKP’s legal counsel, there is absolutely no doubt that TKO/Zuffa was, and is, aware that DKP is Noel’s promoter.
“I understand that you were personally involved in discussions with [King counsel] regarding a potential fight or multi-fight deal for Mikaelian, which would include a fight with Opetaia, and that no agreement was consummated.”
Zuffa Boxing officials did not immediately respond to Boxing Scene requests for comment on the cease-and-desist letter, but Mikaelian told Boxing Scene last week that his contract with King allows him to identify and agree to competing offers, and that’s what has happened here.
Mikaelian-Opetaia is positioned as co-main event to Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defense versus England’s Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Armenia’s Mikaelian won back the WBC cruiserweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Badou Jack in Los Angeles in December.
Expressing frustration that King didn’t move to make him a fight, Mikaelian and his advisor were in talks with Zuffa to stage a bout versus unbeaten Zuffa cruiserweight champion Opetaia.
The WBC then ruled Mikaelian must first meet unified 200lbs champion and WBC light-heavyweight titlist David Benavidez. When negotiations stalled, Mikaelian went back to Zuffa’s Opetaia deal, and the fighter told BS last week he was no longer fretting about being stripped of his belt.
That is expected to happen Saturday night when the first bell rings.
King’s legal team, of course, is working to stop the fight entirely.
“It is particularly disturbing to know that TKO/Zuffa’s COO, Harrison Whitman, and the head of TKO/Zuffa, Dana White, had at least
one virtual conference with DKP’s President, Don King … in an effort to secure a provision of services deal for Mikaelian, again which included a fight with Opetaia,” Brito wrote to a TKO Group Holdings senior vice president and general counsel.
“Although no deal was reached, it is indefensible for Zuffa/TKO to completely ignore the DKP agreement, the promoter-fighter relationship between DKP and Mikaelian, and circumvent DKP and engage the services of Mikaelian for the bout with Opetaia.”
Mikaelian’s contention that he and his advisor were empowered to make fights on their own are disputed by King attorney Brito.
“The DKP agreement grants Mikaelian the right to ‘discuss and explore’ other fight opportunities, but only in consultation with DKP and under no circumstance can Mikaelian enter into an agreement with another party for his professional services without the expressed consent and permission of DKP,” Brito wrote.
“TKO/Zuffa’s actions … [are] a clear tortious interference of the agreement. DKP does not and has not granted TKO/Zuffa permission to engage the services of its fighter, Mikaelian. To be unequivocally clear, TKO/Zuffa’s actions constitute a knowing, intentional and unjustified tortious interference with the agreement. Any contracts that Mikaelian has entered into or shall enter into for his professional services as a fighter, without the express, written consent of DKP are void.
“The announced September 12 bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia cannot go forward. TKO/Zuffa must immediately cancel the bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately.”
A legal official familiar with Mikaelian’s agreement with King said they do not expect the fight to be stopped.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Zuffa says Opetaia-Mikaelian will go on despite DKP objection
Zuffa Boxing intends to move forward with a cruiserweight matchup between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian on Saturday, despite a cease and desist letter from Don King Productions alleging it holds exclusive promoting rights on Mikaelian's career.
The cruiserweight bout is slated as the co-feature of the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn WBC welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas. This week, Don King Productions sent a cease and desist letter to TKO Group Holdings and Zuffa Boxing classifying their promotion of the bout as "outrageous and a clear tortious interference with DKP's agreement."
On Tuesday, Zuffa Boxing and UFC CEO Dana White said Mikaelian would compete as planned Saturday.
"He's fighting this weekend," White told reporters at Contender Series in Las Vegas. "If you look at us over the last 25 years, and now that we're in boxing -- this f---ing sport is the most unsophisticated sport I have ever seen in my life, it's f---ed up for a reason. I've always had good dealings with Don. When have you ever seen a scenario with us where we go and try to interfere with someone's contract? We don't do it."
With four days until the fight, Don King Productions' next move is unknown.
The cease and desist letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, stated Zuffa must "immediately cancel the bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately." It was sent to TKO Group Holdings senior vice president and associate general counsel Isabelle Mercer.
Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs), of Armenia, is a two-time WBC cruiserweight champion.
Zuffa Boxing intends to move forward with a cruiserweight matchup between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian on Saturday, despite a cease and desist letter from Don King Productions alleging it holds exclusive promoting rights on Mikaelian's career.
The cruiserweight bout is slated as the co-feature of the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn WBC welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas. This week, Don King Productions sent a cease and desist letter to TKO Group Holdings and Zuffa Boxing classifying their promotion of the bout as "outrageous and a clear tortious interference with DKP's agreement."
On Tuesday, Zuffa Boxing and UFC CEO Dana White said Mikaelian would compete as planned Saturday.
"He's fighting this weekend," White told reporters at Contender Series in Las Vegas. "If you look at us over the last 25 years, and now that we're in boxing -- this f---ing sport is the most unsophisticated sport I have ever seen in my life, it's f---ed up for a reason. I've always had good dealings with Don. When have you ever seen a scenario with us where we go and try to interfere with someone's contract? We don't do it."
With four days until the fight, Don King Productions' next move is unknown.
The cease and desist letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, stated Zuffa must "immediately cancel the bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately." It was sent to TKO Group Holdings senior vice president and associate general counsel Isabelle Mercer.
Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs), of Armenia, is a two-time WBC cruiserweight champion.
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
That's how it came across to me. What's your actual pick then?keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 17:01Where did I "make it sound like Jai stopping him is basically a foregone conclusion"?
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Jay will win on points 8-4 or 9-3. No knockdowns and it won't be a controversial decision. I'll have a bet with you if you like?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑09 Sep 2026, 13:13That's how it came across to me. What's your actual pick then?keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑08 Sep 2026, 17:01Where did I "make it sound like Jai stopping him is basically a foregone conclusion"?
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Heldenjaeger
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Well what kind of bet do you have in mind? As I said before, this is not a fight I'd bet my money on.keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑09 Sep 2026, 14:22Jay will win on points 8-4 or 9-3. No knockdowns and it won't be a controversial decision. I'll have a bet with you if you like?
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keithmoonhangover
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Re: Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian | Paramount+ - September 12, 2026
Loser comes back to the thread and posts the comment of the other's choice?Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑10 Sep 2026, 04:24Well what kind of bet do you have in mind? As I said before, this is not a fight I'd bet my money on.keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑09 Sep 2026, 14:22Jay will win on points 8-4 or 9-3. No knockdowns and it won't be a controversial decision. I'll have a bet with you if you like?