David Benavidez is to go straight for the next cruiserweight belt. The WBC has signed champion Noel Mikaelian to defend his title against the WBA and WBO champion.
David Benavidez could soon be fighting for the next cruiserweight title. The WBC has ordered champion Noel Mikaelian to defend his belt against Benavidez. The 29-year-old already holds the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles as well as the WBC light heavyweight belt. Such an arrangement is unusual because a federation is effectively appointing a champion from another federation as the next opponent for its own title holder. The move was apparently also made possible because Benavidez’s team had asked the WBC to do so.
Mikaelian regained the WBC title in December with a points victory in the rematch against Badou Jack. Most recently, however, the Armenian was also linked with a possible duel against Jai Opetaia. Whether this fight can now be pursued further also depends on which path Benavidez takes. Because there are several options for Benavidez. In addition to cruiserweight, a return to light heavyweight is also conceivable, where a duel with Dmitry Bivol is still on the cards. Bivol will first defend his title against Michael Eifert. Benavidez made a clear statement at the beginning of May with a dominant knockout victory over Gilberto Ramirez in the cruiserweight division.
Text by Robin Josten