German cruiserweight Noel Mikaelian on his world championship triumph against Badou Jack, his fighting style and his rival’s mind games.
In a heated rematch against Badou Jack, Noel Mikaelian secured the WBC world championship belt on December 13 in Los Angeles (USA). After twelve intense rounds, the German cruiserweight left no doubts this time and triumphed unanimously (116:110, 116:110, 115:111) over his rival.
In an interview with sport.de, Mikaelian, who was most recently promoted by Don King, provides insights into his fights in and out of the ring. The Armenian-born fighter also talks about his opponent’s trash talk and his questionable fighting style. And reveals an interesting clause in his contract with promoter godfather Don King.
“The end after all the stress”
“I was euphoric. It felt like closure after all the stress this year with this Baou Jack, Don King, the WBC,” said Mikaelian, describing his feelings after the verdict was announced in the ring at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles (USA). In the first world championship duel against Jack in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in May of this year, the 35-year-old thought he was the winner – but the judges awarded Jack the victory by Majority Decision.
Mikaelian told sport.de about the World Championship rematch and the “Ripper’s” fighting style: “It was a pretty dirty fight, just like the first one. I adapted to his tricks in the middle rounds and then worked on him myself in the infight, I let my emotions out.” Jack is a smart fox – “all that posturing, the way he turns away”.
Mikaelian, who grew up in Hamburg and lives in Miami, initially maintained his technically clean line. But then he got involved in a “brawl” in the ring. “I thought: Okay, if he wants it tough, then we’ll make it tough,” said the newly crowned WBC champion.
Even in the run-up to the rematch, Jack fought hard: “He insulted me the whole week before the fight, including personally. I don’t even know why.” During the face-offs, his rival was no longer able to keep his mouth shut after just a few seconds, insulting Mikaelian as a “faggot” (homophobic insult; editor’s note) – and that he was going to destroy his face. Mikaelian: “I think it was all mind games. Ironically, he had to go to hospital after the fight with his face and a broken cheekbone.”
Things also got heated during the fight. “In the eighth round, the ring was stormed by the security. He held me in the ring ropes and I kept punching with my right hand,” reports the German-Armenian. “That’s when Jack got angry, because some of it was to the back of my head.” Security then intervened and kept the two boxers apart. “People thought there might be a disqualification for both of them.”
Clause in the King contract
Despite the heated confrontation, the new cruiserweight world champion praised his opponent as a great and cunning boxer. And he showed fairness afterwards: “After the fight, Jack showed me respect and said I was the better man.”
Mikaelian said of his deal with promoter Don King, which has caused him a lot of trouble in recent years: “I still have a King contract, but I have an additional clause. If there are better offers on the market, I can accept them if King can’t match them within five days.” And since King is practically no longer doing anything, he is in a very good position.
He is now aiming for a unification fight with IBF world champion Jai Opetaia next. Mikaelian: “I also said straight away when I got his message: Let’s go, let’s go!”
Text: Frank Schwantes