Pedro Diaz has declared himself “ready” to prepare Norair “Noel” Mikaelian for a unification cruiserweight title fight with Jai Opetaia.
The IBF champion Opetaia defended his title earlier in December when he stopped Husseyin Cinkara, a week before Mikaelian won his rematch with Badou Jack to earn the title of the WBC.
According to Tasman Fighters’ Mick Francis, the promoter of the 30-year-old Opetaia, a contract existed for the winner of Jack-Mikaelian II to confront his leading fighter in 2026. That Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez is on course to fight David Benavidez makes Opetaia-Mikaelian even more appealing, and Diaz – the trainer who guided Mikaelian to victory over Jack – believes that that is something in which Opetaia and Armenia’s Mikaelian are “both interested”.
“Whatever happens, the promoter and manager will deal with that,” Diaz told BoxingScene. “I’m ready to coach him again.
“They’re both interested, so the management teams are the ones that have to work on that.
“Noel is the 22nd world champion that I worked with.”
After the victory over Jack, Diaz flew to Sydney, Australia to work the corner of Opetaia’s fellow Australian Tim Tszyu for the first time. Tszyu defeated Anthony Velazquez over 10 rounds, and will continue to work with Diaz in 2026.
