NOEL MIKAELIAN LANDS ANOTHER SHOT AT BADOU JACK AFTER WBC ORDERS REMATCH
The WBC announced Monday it has ordered an immediate cruiserweight title rematch between champion Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelian following Jack’s disputed decision win last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs) retained his title via majority decision (114-114, 115-113 and 115-113) in the chief-support bout to Canelo Alvarez-William Scull. Mikaelian filed an appeal with the WBC following the decision. Now, the sides have until July 1 to strike a deal before a purse bid is ordered.
“The world knows I won the first fight, that’s why I’m getting the rematch,” Mikaelian, 34, told The Ring. “On just three weeks’ notice, across three countries and time zones, and with less than a day’s notice that the fight would be moved from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m., he still couldn’t beat me.
“I’m still the champ, and with a full camp and the proper preparation, I’m going to prove it without question.”
Mikaelian (27-3, 12 KOs) accepted the fight after Ryan Rozicki was injured. Armenia’s Mikaelian never lost his title in the ring, either. He was named champion in recess by the WBC last year after multiple cancellations for a defense vs. Rozicki due to injury and promotional issues.
Jack, 41, was fighting for the first time 27 months. The Swede is a former 168-pound champion.
Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
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Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
Badou Jack-Noel Mikaelyan rematch heads to July 15 purse bid
The ordered rematch between Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan is now subject to the highest bidder.
A July 15 purse bid hearing will determine promotional rights for the abovementioned WBC cruiserweight title fight. The two sides failed to reach terms in the 30-day negotiation period that was assigned on June 2, which forced this next step.
Jack, 29-3-3 (17 KOs), won their first meeting via majority decision on May 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The title fight served as the chief support for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-William Scull undisputed super middleweight championship.
Mikaelyan, 27-3 (12 KOs), was an unexpected challenger when he accepted the fight on three weeks’ notice in place of injured mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs). The risk was not sufficiently rewarded, as many viewers believed Mikaelyan – who outlanded Jack 153-122, according to Compubox – deserved the nod.
It was certainly close enough for the WBC to grant a request in a filed appeal by Mikaelyan that called for an immediate rematch.
Should the second act move forward, Mikaelyan will be afforded a full camp for the opportunity to regain the title he held from November 2023 through last December. A legal dispute with Hall of Fame promoter Don King put Mikaelyan on the shelf, which prompted the WBC to downgrade him to “champion in recess.”
That designation was previously assigned to Jack, whose prior title reign was restored as a result.
Jack – a 2008 Olympian for Sweden who is now based in Dubai – won the WBC cruiserweight belt in a February 2023 12th-round knockout win over Ilunga “Junior” Makabu to become a three-division titlist. His reign was short-lived, as he vacated the title to pursue a shot at the WBC’s bridgerweight title.
The opportunity never materialized, though he was fortunate to return to the 200lbs division at a time when his old belt was up for grabs.
Mikaelyan won the vacant belt in a third-round knockout of Makabu atop a November 2023 card in his adopted hometown of Miami.
Like his predecessor, Mikaeylan saw his reign ended without a single defense, although one was scheduled – several times over. He was due to face Rozicki in a mandatory title defense, but it was repeatedly postponed due to an assortment of issues.
Eventually, Mikaelyan was revealed to be in litigation with King, at which point the WBC had him swap places with Jack and assume the champion in recess tag.
Jack previously held titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. His reinstatement as WBC cruiserweight titlist initially came with the condition that he next face Rozicki.
The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Three Lions Promotions and originally budgeted for a late April date in Rozicki’s hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Turki Alalshikh – head of Riyadh Season – intervened on behalf of Jack and added a six-figure sum to the total pot to relocate the fight to Riyadh.
It remains to be seen if Alalshikh, boxing’s biggest current financier, will find a home for the rematch or if it will land with another promoter.
Waiting in the wings is Poland’s Michal Cieslak, who claimed the WBC interim cruiserweight title in a recent fourth-round knockout of Jean Pascal. Should Jack-Mikaelyan II not move forward for any reason, Cieslak will be in position to challenge for the full version of the title.
The ordered rematch between Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan is now subject to the highest bidder.
A July 15 purse bid hearing will determine promotional rights for the abovementioned WBC cruiserweight title fight. The two sides failed to reach terms in the 30-day negotiation period that was assigned on June 2, which forced this next step.
Jack, 29-3-3 (17 KOs), won their first meeting via majority decision on May 4 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The title fight served as the chief support for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-William Scull undisputed super middleweight championship.
Mikaelyan, 27-3 (12 KOs), was an unexpected challenger when he accepted the fight on three weeks’ notice in place of injured mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs). The risk was not sufficiently rewarded, as many viewers believed Mikaelyan – who outlanded Jack 153-122, according to Compubox – deserved the nod.
It was certainly close enough for the WBC to grant a request in a filed appeal by Mikaelyan that called for an immediate rematch.
Should the second act move forward, Mikaelyan will be afforded a full camp for the opportunity to regain the title he held from November 2023 through last December. A legal dispute with Hall of Fame promoter Don King put Mikaelyan on the shelf, which prompted the WBC to downgrade him to “champion in recess.”
That designation was previously assigned to Jack, whose prior title reign was restored as a result.
Jack – a 2008 Olympian for Sweden who is now based in Dubai – won the WBC cruiserweight belt in a February 2023 12th-round knockout win over Ilunga “Junior” Makabu to become a three-division titlist. His reign was short-lived, as he vacated the title to pursue a shot at the WBC’s bridgerweight title.
The opportunity never materialized, though he was fortunate to return to the 200lbs division at a time when his old belt was up for grabs.
Mikaelyan won the vacant belt in a third-round knockout of Makabu atop a November 2023 card in his adopted hometown of Miami.
Like his predecessor, Mikaeylan saw his reign ended without a single defense, although one was scheduled – several times over. He was due to face Rozicki in a mandatory title defense, but it was repeatedly postponed due to an assortment of issues.
Eventually, Mikaelyan was revealed to be in litigation with King, at which point the WBC had him swap places with Jack and assume the champion in recess tag.
Jack previously held titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. His reinstatement as WBC cruiserweight titlist initially came with the condition that he next face Rozicki.
The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Three Lions Promotions and originally budgeted for a late April date in Rozicki’s hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Turki Alalshikh – head of Riyadh Season – intervened on behalf of Jack and added a six-figure sum to the total pot to relocate the fight to Riyadh.
It remains to be seen if Alalshikh, boxing’s biggest current financier, will find a home for the rematch or if it will land with another promoter.
Waiting in the wings is Poland’s Michal Cieslak, who claimed the WBC interim cruiserweight title in a recent fourth-round knockout of Jean Pascal. Should Jack-Mikaelyan II not move forward for any reason, Cieslak will be in position to challenge for the full version of the title.
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Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
Noel Mikaelyan won’t step aside to let Jake Paul face Badou Jack next
If Jake Paul is going to challenge Badou Jack for a world title, it won’t be until after Noel Mikaelyan faces Jack for a second time.
Don King Productions, which promotes Mikaelyan, issued a press release saying that they were “denying Jake Paul’s request” for Mikaelyan to step aside.
It’s unclear whether Paul’s team officially requested this of Mikaelyan and King. But Nakisa Bidarian, who runs Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul, recently discussed their desire for a Jack fight on an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show.
“Jake wants to fight for a belt as soon as possible,” Bidarian said. “I think it’s tough this year, ’cause Badou Jack, who’s who he wants to fight more so than anyone, has a mandatory rematch with the guy he just beat for the WBC.”
Jack stopped Ilunga Makabu in February 2023 to capture the WBC cruiserweight title. He went more than two years without defending it and was named “champion in recess” as he pondered a move to the bridgerweight division.
Mikaelyan won the vacant WBC title in November 2023 with a third-round TKO of Makabu. But Mikaelyan was unable to defend against Ryan Rozicki in 2024, and Jack, who hadn’t fought since, wanted to return to the ring. So Mikaelyan and Jack changed places, Jack being reinstated as the WBC titleholder while Mikaelyan became the “champion in recess.”
Jack vs. Rozicki was originally supposed to be part of the May 3 undercard to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. William Scull. When Rozicki got injured in training camp, Mikaelyan stepped in.
Jack outpointed Mikaelyan via narrow majority decision – 115-113 on two scorecards, 114-114 on the third. Mikaelyan’s team successfully appealed to the WBC, which ordered an immediate rematch. A purse bid is scheduled for July 15.
Meanwhile, Michal Cieslak scored a fourth-round TKO over Jean Pascal in June for the WBC’s vacant interim cruiserweight title. He won’t move immediately toward a fight with the winner of Jack-Mikaelyan II. Instead, the WBC has mandated that Cieslak must first face Yamil Peralta.
“The WBC wouldn’t even be able [to] sanction the matchup [with Badou Jack], as Paul is not currently ranked by the WBC,” said Don King’s press release.
For now. The WBC could always insert Paul into its rankings. But there is another potential route for Paul to get a title shot.
Paul recently entered the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings at No. 14 after his decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr. The unified WBA and WBO titleholder is Gilberto Ramirez, who outpointed Yuniel Dorticos on the Paul-Chavez undercard.
However, the outcry over Paul’s ranking led the sanctioning body to say it would review its decision during its next convention, which is scheduled for July 15-18, according to Ring Magazine.
If Jake Paul is going to challenge Badou Jack for a world title, it won’t be until after Noel Mikaelyan faces Jack for a second time.
Don King Productions, which promotes Mikaelyan, issued a press release saying that they were “denying Jake Paul’s request” for Mikaelyan to step aside.
It’s unclear whether Paul’s team officially requested this of Mikaelyan and King. But Nakisa Bidarian, who runs Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul, recently discussed their desire for a Jack fight on an episode of The Ariel Helwani Show.
“Jake wants to fight for a belt as soon as possible,” Bidarian said. “I think it’s tough this year, ’cause Badou Jack, who’s who he wants to fight more so than anyone, has a mandatory rematch with the guy he just beat for the WBC.”
Jack stopped Ilunga Makabu in February 2023 to capture the WBC cruiserweight title. He went more than two years without defending it and was named “champion in recess” as he pondered a move to the bridgerweight division.
Mikaelyan won the vacant WBC title in November 2023 with a third-round TKO of Makabu. But Mikaelyan was unable to defend against Ryan Rozicki in 2024, and Jack, who hadn’t fought since, wanted to return to the ring. So Mikaelyan and Jack changed places, Jack being reinstated as the WBC titleholder while Mikaelyan became the “champion in recess.”
Jack vs. Rozicki was originally supposed to be part of the May 3 undercard to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. William Scull. When Rozicki got injured in training camp, Mikaelyan stepped in.
Jack outpointed Mikaelyan via narrow majority decision – 115-113 on two scorecards, 114-114 on the third. Mikaelyan’s team successfully appealed to the WBC, which ordered an immediate rematch. A purse bid is scheduled for July 15.
Meanwhile, Michal Cieslak scored a fourth-round TKO over Jean Pascal in June for the WBC’s vacant interim cruiserweight title. He won’t move immediately toward a fight with the winner of Jack-Mikaelyan II. Instead, the WBC has mandated that Cieslak must first face Yamil Peralta.
“The WBC wouldn’t even be able [to] sanction the matchup [with Badou Jack], as Paul is not currently ranked by the WBC,” said Don King’s press release.
For now. The WBC could always insert Paul into its rankings. But there is another potential route for Paul to get a title shot.
Paul recently entered the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings at No. 14 after his decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr. The unified WBA and WBO titleholder is Gilberto Ramirez, who outpointed Yuniel Dorticos on the Paul-Chavez undercard.
However, the outcry over Paul’s ranking led the sanctioning body to say it would review its decision during its next convention, which is scheduled for July 15-18, according to Ring Magazine.
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Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
I could actually see him beating an aging fighter like Jack or even Mikaelian if Jake is in peak form.
If one of those fights happens, he might have a legitimate shot.
I don’t think he needs the WBA ranking anyway. He should absolutely avoid Ramírez for obvious reasons.
The WBC could give him a ranking at any time anyway.
He’ll definitely hold the belt hostage as soon as the Opetaia/Ramírez winner tries to unify, which would be a shame.
Though after that, he could go for a Bridgerweight title. Even if all of that sounds kind of ridiculous.
If one of those fights happens, he might have a legitimate shot.
I don’t think he needs the WBA ranking anyway. He should absolutely avoid Ramírez for obvious reasons.
The WBC could give him a ranking at any time anyway.
He’ll definitely hold the belt hostage as soon as the Opetaia/Ramírez winner tries to unify, which would be a shame.
Though after that, he could go for a Bridgerweight title. Even if all of that sounds kind of ridiculous.
Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
Why not. But please do not make it main event
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Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
He probably said it do Paul can up the step aside fee.
Everyone’s got a price. Imagine being offered a step aside fee similar to how much your purse would be for the world title fight?
Being paid without fighting. Why not.
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Re: Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian II - WBC ordered Rematch
Badou Jack-Noel Mikaelyan reach deal for rematch, avoid purse bid hearing
Purse bid heads will wake up to devastating news.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that the respective teams for Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan have reached a deal to move forward with their ordered cruiserweight title fight rematch. A purse bid hearing previously scheduled for Tuesday was canceled, as a result of the development.
“The WBC has been notified that an agreement has been reached for the rematch between Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan,” Sulaiman informed BS and other media members via WhatsApp on Monday. “Consequently, the purse offer scheduled for [Tuesday] is hereby cancelled.”
News of the two sides agreeing to terms comes as it was revealed by Don King Productions, Mikaelyan’s promoter, that their side rejected a step-aside offer that would have seen Jake Paul instead challenge for Jack’s WBC 200lbs crown.
A Jack-Paul matchup would have been easy to make from a negotiating standpoint. However, one other hurdle existed at the moment – Paul is not rated by the WBC at cruiserweight. The social media influencer-turned-contender and promoter recently cracked the WBA top 15 but has not expressed much interest in challenging unified WBA/WBO titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
It’s a moot point, as Mikaelyan, 27-3 (12 KOs) – an Armenian boxer based in South Florida – was already awarded an immediate rematch with Jack, 29-3-3 (17 KOs).
The two met on a May 4 Riyadh Season show at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Jack retained the title that previously belonged to Mikaelyan with a majority decision win. Many viewers felt Mikaelyan deserved the nod in a fight he accepted on short notice.
Jack was originally due to defend against mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), who suffered a biceps tear and was forced to withdraw. Mikaelyan agreed to take his place, canceling his own plans for a previously announced return later that month in South Florida.
While not rewarded by the judges, Mikaelyan was given fair treatment by the WBC who granted an appeal filed by its former cruiserweight titlist.
Mikaelyan is now afforded a full camp for the opportunity to regain the title he held from November 2023 through last December.
A legal dispute with Hall of Fame promoter Don King put Mikaelyan on the shelf, which prompted the WBC to downgrade him to ‘Champion in Recess.’
Mikaelyan actually won and lost the title in the same fashion as was the case for Jack’s first reign at the weight.
Jack – a 2008 Olympian for Sweden who is now based in Dubai – won the WBC 200lbs belt in a February 2023 12th-round knockout win over Ilunga “Junior” Makabu. He then opted to campaign at bridgerweight, in lieu of a mandatory title defense against Mikaelyan. Jack agreed to vacate in exchange for a direct shot at the WBC bridgerweight belt, which never materialized.
Mikaelyan won the vacant belt in a third-round knockout of Makabu atop a November 2023 card in his adopted hometown of Miami. Like his predecessor, Mikaeylan’s reign also ended without a single defense, though one was scheduled – several times over. He was due to face Rozicki in a mandatory title defense but repeatedly postponed due to an assortment of issues.
It ultimately came out that Mikaelyan was in litigation with King, at which point the WBC had him swap places with Jack and assume the champion in recess tag.
Jack previously held titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. His reinstatement as WBC cruiserweight titlist initially came with the condition that he next face Rozicki.
The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Three Lions Promotions and originally budgeted for a late April date in Rozicki’s hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Turki Alalshikh – head of Riyadh Season – intervened on behalf of Jack and added a six-figure sum to the total pot to relocate the fight to Riyadh.
Details of when and where the rematch will take place were not confirmed as this goes to publication.
Purse bid heads will wake up to devastating news.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has confirmed that the respective teams for Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan have reached a deal to move forward with their ordered cruiserweight title fight rematch. A purse bid hearing previously scheduled for Tuesday was canceled, as a result of the development.
“The WBC has been notified that an agreement has been reached for the rematch between Cruiserweight champion Badou Jack and Noel Mikaelyan,” Sulaiman informed BS and other media members via WhatsApp on Monday. “Consequently, the purse offer scheduled for [Tuesday] is hereby cancelled.”
News of the two sides agreeing to terms comes as it was revealed by Don King Productions, Mikaelyan’s promoter, that their side rejected a step-aside offer that would have seen Jake Paul instead challenge for Jack’s WBC 200lbs crown.
A Jack-Paul matchup would have been easy to make from a negotiating standpoint. However, one other hurdle existed at the moment – Paul is not rated by the WBC at cruiserweight. The social media influencer-turned-contender and promoter recently cracked the WBA top 15 but has not expressed much interest in challenging unified WBA/WBO titlist Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
It’s a moot point, as Mikaelyan, 27-3 (12 KOs) – an Armenian boxer based in South Florida – was already awarded an immediate rematch with Jack, 29-3-3 (17 KOs).
The two met on a May 4 Riyadh Season show at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Jack retained the title that previously belonged to Mikaelyan with a majority decision win. Many viewers felt Mikaelyan deserved the nod in a fight he accepted on short notice.
Jack was originally due to defend against mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki, 20-1-1 (19 KOs), who suffered a biceps tear and was forced to withdraw. Mikaelyan agreed to take his place, canceling his own plans for a previously announced return later that month in South Florida.
While not rewarded by the judges, Mikaelyan was given fair treatment by the WBC who granted an appeal filed by its former cruiserweight titlist.
Mikaelyan is now afforded a full camp for the opportunity to regain the title he held from November 2023 through last December.
A legal dispute with Hall of Fame promoter Don King put Mikaelyan on the shelf, which prompted the WBC to downgrade him to ‘Champion in Recess.’
Mikaelyan actually won and lost the title in the same fashion as was the case for Jack’s first reign at the weight.
Jack – a 2008 Olympian for Sweden who is now based in Dubai – won the WBC 200lbs belt in a February 2023 12th-round knockout win over Ilunga “Junior” Makabu. He then opted to campaign at bridgerweight, in lieu of a mandatory title defense against Mikaelyan. Jack agreed to vacate in exchange for a direct shot at the WBC bridgerweight belt, which never materialized.
Mikaelyan won the vacant belt in a third-round knockout of Makabu atop a November 2023 card in his adopted hometown of Miami. Like his predecessor, Mikaeylan’s reign also ended without a single defense, though one was scheduled – several times over. He was due to face Rozicki in a mandatory title defense but repeatedly postponed due to an assortment of issues.
It ultimately came out that Mikaelyan was in litigation with King, at which point the WBC had him swap places with Jack and assume the champion in recess tag.
Jack previously held titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. His reinstatement as WBC cruiserweight titlist initially came with the condition that he next face Rozicki.
The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Three Lions Promotions and originally budgeted for a late April date in Rozicki’s hometown of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Turki Alalshikh – head of Riyadh Season – intervened on behalf of Jack and added a six-figure sum to the total pot to relocate the fight to Riyadh.
Details of when and where the rematch will take place were not confirmed as this goes to publication.