Ryan Rozicki has to cancel his world championship cruiserweight fight against Badou Jack due to a torn biceps – Noel Mikaelian wants to step in!
No sooner had the WBC cruiserweight title picture seemed clear than another twist caused chaos: Ryan Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 knockouts), mandatory challenger to world champion Badou Jack, has suffered an injury and has been ruled out of the world title fight in Riyadh on May 4.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed on Tuesday the cancellation of the Canadian, who suffered a biceps injury in training. The fight was scheduled to take place on the undercard of the mega-event between Canelo Alvarez and William Scull. “The cruiserweight division has been extremely complicated over the last two years,” Sulaiman told Ring Magazine. “Just when everything seemed to be getting back on track, Rozicki gets injured. We will now look at the options with the promoters and support the way forward.”
Mikaelian wants his world championship fight!
As soon as the news of Rozicki’s withdrawal became public, Noel Mikaelian (27-2, 12 knockouts) – once WBC world champion himself and currently “Champion in Recess” – spoke up. The German-Armenian, who lives in Miami, was already preparing for a fight in May and now sees his chance. “I was the rightful WBC champion,” explained Mikaelian. “Even though I was put in recess – I never stopped training, never stopped being ready. This fight against Badou Jack is more than an opportunity – it’s justice.”
He said: “I am ready to come to Riyadh and show the world who the real champion is. My thanks in advance to His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh, the Riyadh Season, my promoter Don King and the WBC for this opportunity.” Don King, who recently hindered rather than promoted Mikaelian’s career, also confirmed the ongoing talks: “Noel Mikaelian is ready, willing and able to step in for Rozicki. We are currently negotiating.”
From macabre to legal disputes
Mikaelian had won the WBC belt in November 2023 with a dominant knockout victory against Ilunga Makabu. Since then, however, there has been a chain of unfortunate events:
- He was due to box Rozicki for the first time in June 2024, but suffered an injury in sparring.
- An alternative date in September was postponed due to Don King’s illness.
- In December, the third attempt failed as a legal dispute between King and Mikaelian became public.
After a draw between Rozicki and Yamil Peralta on December 7, the WBC reinstated Badou Jack as titleholder at its annual convention and named Mikaelian “Champion in Recess” – a highly questionable decision. The 41-year-old Jack had last boxed in February 2023 – also against Makabu, whom he stopped in the 12th round. Originally, the WBC had scheduled Jack vs. Rozicki in January and Mikaelian next. But now the roles could shift faster than expected.
Anthony Girges, Mikaelian’s advisor, emphasized: “Noel was always mentally and physically ready. The fact that he was considered the champion in Recess never changed the fact that he sees himself as the true WBC champion.” Regardless of whether Mikaelian or Jack ends up with the belt in his hands: The new champion can look forward to big fights. Jai Opetaia (IBF) and Gilberto Ramirez (WBA & WBO) await with possible unification fights
Text by Robin Josten