WBC to Noel Mikaelian: Fight David Benavidez next, or else

The WBC, responding swiftly to Friday news that its cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian is finalizing a fight with Zuffa Boxing champion Jai Opetaia, has ordered Mikaelian to make a mandatory title defense against unified champion David Benavidez.

Stating the WBC board’s decision is rooted in the fact Armenia’s Mikaelian 28-3 (12 KOs) has not kept his word to make a voluntary title defense more than six months after winning the belt from Badou Jack in Los Angeles, WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman made Mikaelian’s choice simple: Defend the belt versus unbeaten Benavidez 32-0 (26KOs) or fight Opetaia and be stripped of the strap.

“The WBC is extremely proud of this ruling, as it will certainly bring the best benefits to both parties after witnessing the mediation process, which was not successful,” Sulaiman said.

Sulaiman said during this week’s visit to WBC offices in Mexico, Phoenix’s Benavidez, who also wears the WBC light-heavyweight belt, made clear he “has his mind only on winning the WBC cruiserweight championship.”

Benavidez promoter Sampson Lewkowicz wrote a letter to the WBC 10 days ago petitioning for a WBC order on the matter.

Lewkowicz said he drafted the petition because he knows WBO bylaws allow any sitting champion in the sanctioning body to request to be placed into mandatory contender position in any weight class directly above or below the division where they reign.

Sulauman’s order came minutes after BoxingScene first reported that Mikaelian was nearing a deal to fight unbeaten former IBF champion Opetaia later this year on a “The Ring Magazine” card.

“As of [Thursday] night, there has been no positive result and the management of Mikaelian continue to be at odds with their promoter [Don King],” Sulaiman wrote in his letter.

This follows the IBF effectively stripping Opetaia 30-0 (23KOs) of his belt in March after he became the first to fight for the new Zuffa Boxing belt in Las Vegas, defeating Brandon Glanton.

Benavidez rebuffed an offer to fight Opetaia next, individuals close to the situation told BoxingScene. His promoter, Lewkowicz, told BoxingScene Friday that Benavidez wants to pursue standing as the undisputed cruiserweight champion.

Benavidez’s interest in meeting three-belt light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is fading, Lewkowicz said, because a formal offer sent to Bivol promoter Eddie Hearn has gone unanswered, and Lewkowicz speculates that Bivol will next move to WBO interim champion Callum Smith.

As he anticipates a November fight, Benavidez would be assigned a WBC title bout versus Poland’s Michal Cieslak 28-2 (22 KOs), who last fought in June, defeating veteran ex-champion Jean Pascal.

“If the champion doesn’t fight Benavidez, he’ll most likely he’ll get stripped,” Lewkowicz said.

“Now, Benavidez is not waiting for anyone. Bivol seems to be too busy to think about.

“From now on, it’s all about legacy, and I support my fighter’s right. He’s bigger than Bivol, Mikaelian, Opetaia and everyone else … .”