BoxRec

Ryan Rozicki vs Yamil Peralta interim title fight set for December 7th

Noel Mikaelian is reportedly locked in a legal dispute with Don King

Almost exactly a year after joining forces with Don King, longtime cruiserweight contender Noel Mikaelian claimed his first world title by torching Ilunga Makabu for the WBC belt. Unfortunately for him, we have now once again reached the point where the scorpion stings the frog. A planned June defense against Ryan Rozicki got pushed to September when Mikaelian suffered a cut, only to get further postponed to December 7th for no adequately explained reason.

Now, Mauricio Sulaiman tells Jake Donovan that the fight is once again off as due to an “ongoing legal dispute” between Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs) and King. If only someone could have seen this coming.

The good news is that Sulaiman is taking an opportunity to right a wrong, pitting Rozicki (20-1, 19 KOs) against Yamil Peralta (17-1, 9 KOs) for the interim title in a rematch of their hugely controversial 2022 meeting. Rozicki’s decision victory proved so egregious that the WBC refused to give Rozicki the “international” title at stake and recommended it be overturned to a no contest.

The bad news is that Peralta, a 2012 Olympian coming off a solid win over Thabiso Mchunu, will once again have to fight Rozicki in the latter’s home turf.

We’ll let you know if any stateside outlets pick up the broadcast, though it’ll be hard-pressed to compete with Top Rank’s title rematch doubleheader that evening.

Firsr bout ended a SD win for Rozicki in 2022.

Although the result stands, after talking to the supervisor as well as to Dan Otter from Three Lions Promotions, and as all officials were from Canada, the WBC decided that the title stays vacant. A WBC panel reviewed the fight after a complaint of Peralta's team and the WBC overturned the result to a NO CONTEST.

Needs neutral turf... Peralta beats him again

No one picked this up yet?

Ryan Rozicki
The first fight was your first victory that went the distance. How would you rate your performance?

The fight against Peralta wasn’t my best performance. I had lost focus and the next fight will be a lot different. I am ready for this.

What do you feel you can do differently in the rematch?

I am more confident in my boxing skills and my power is at an all-time high. I have been the most focused I have ever been and for almost a year now. I have been training to win this title.

How have you kept yourself mentally sharp with so many delays in the last few months?

To me, it’s has been one big camp from the beginning of this year and I am in the best shape of my life physically and mentally. I have never been stronger. I will take the good from the bad. This break due to WBC champ Noel Mikaelin´s pullouts has allowed me to really put in the work inside the gym and outside. I am ready.

Dan Otter
How did this fight come about Dan?

After repeated postponements, we made a last-minute deal with Don King before the purse bid deadline back in October to fight WBC cruiserweight world champion Mikaelin on December 7th in Sydney Canada. Noel didn’t uphold his end of the bargain, claiming legal issues with his promoter, after the deal had been made. Once Noel pulled out we had to find another option for December 7th and Ryan immediately wanted Peralta, and with Ryan #1 and Yamil #2 in the WBC, it made sense for them to fight for the world title and the WBC agreed.

What official title will be at stake?

The fight will be for the WBC interim world cruiserweight title. There has been speculation that the “interim” classification will be dropped at the WBC convention in Hamburg which starts December 8th, the day after the Rozicki/Peralta rematch. I could not see how Noel could hold the belt any longer than he already has. He is now calling out YouTubers in the media to fight for his belt. He has not defended it in over a year and he won’t fight Rozicki because of legal issues. It has been an obscure scene of events to say the least.

What would be next for the winner of this bout?

We want the best and once Ryan is the champion we will look to fight the best of the best. Badou Jack out of recess, unify against IBF champion Jai or any of the other beltholders. Ryan is ready and more than willing.

Fight Week!!

Would like to see Badou Jack get back into it. That was a really god, old school, economical beating he handed to Makabu. One of Jack's very best showings - a shame he went inactive. Although I heard he wants to fight for the Bridgerweight title.

Fight Night!!

Wow this pairing seems snake bitten by bad judging. Peralta should likely have taken the first decision, while Rozicki did enough to cruise to a comfortable decision this time around. They just can’t seem to get this one right.

At least we saw a much improved Rozicki this time. He showed the ability to stick to a game plan and mix in some decent boxing with his usual constant pressure, seek-and-destroy style. He should make for some pretty fun fights going forward if they keep giving him bigger names.

Ooof, after Ryan sat on the sidelines for a year awaiting his chance to fight for a WBC title… he gets robbed with a draw.

See you all in late 2026 when this is finally resolved for good. I already have the promotional poster tagline.
"Rozicki-Peralta III: We might as well finish this, sort of, I guess"
(with the new WBC interim in recess title at stake)

It was a draw?

Seriously just scrap this belt and weight already.

scrap cruiserweight?

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑08 Dec 2024, 16:50 scrap cruiserweight?

Oh. I thought this was Bridgerweight

Forgot to read the thread again.

Cruiserweight is going thought a naff time at moment too.

I didn't see a robbery, at all... draw was fine

Manrae wrote: ↑09 Dec 2024, 01:03 I didn't see a robbery, at all... draw was fine

I don’t mean to ask this in a condescending way I’m genuinely trying to spark good discussion, but the way I saw it, Rozicki controlled the ring and dictated the pace for 12 straight rounds, while also landing the more effective shots in most exchanges. I can’t possibly see how anyone could have given Peralta more than 2 to 4 rounds at best.

I’m all for an exciting counter puncher. It’s always a treat watching a slick boxer win exchanges on the back foot. But that wasn’t the case here, Rozicki faired at least as well or better in most exchanges, while also controlling the entire fight. Landslide decision in my books. I do however agree peralta won the first bout comfortably.

Weird how things work. I saw it exactly the opposite as how you saw it.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑08 Dec 2024, 17:05

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑08 Dec 2024, 16:50 scrap cruiserweight?

Oh. I thought this was Bridgerweight

Forgot to read the thread again.

Cruiserweight is going thought a naff time at moment too.

It may have been in your mind because a couple of years back Rozicki fought Oscar Rivas for the first bridgerweight belt.

Greymark wrote: ↑09 Dec 2024, 10:54

Manrae wrote: ↑09 Dec 2024, 01:03 I didn't see a robbery, at all... draw was fine

I don’t mean to ask this in a condescending way I’m genuinely trying to spark good discussion, but the way I saw it, Rozicki controlled the ring and dictated the pace for 12 straight rounds, while also landing the more effective shots in most exchanges. I can’t possibly see how anyone could have given Peralta more than 2 to 4 rounds at best.

I’m all for an exciting counter puncher. It’s always a treat watching a slick boxer win exchanges on the back foot. But that wasn’t the case here, Rozicki faired at least as well or better in most exchanges, while also controlling the entire fight. Landslide decision in my books. I do however agree peralta won the first bout comfortably.

Ok, that's fine.
1st half, Peralta fought his fight, allowed to move, jab, hold.
round 6 or 7, Ryan hurts him, mounts an offensive in attempt to drown Peralta and nearly did at the end

Close fight, did not see a robbery nor clear winner/loser

With Jack being ordered to fight Ryan, Peralta is back to trying to secure another big fight... unless Jack gets an exemption in order to unify, that is.