Mikaelian On Don King's Promotional Turmoil

Noel Mikaelian says promotional struggles with Don King left him inactive for years and forced him to take control of his own career.

The cruiserweight contender told The Ring that he accepted a fight with Jai Opetaia after his team secured the right to pursue outside opportunities. Mikaelian had been locked in a promotional dispute with King that prevented him from fighting regularly, according to Bad Left Hook.

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Mikaelian On Why He Signed With King

Mikaelian explained that he signed with King specifically to secure a world title shot after losing a controversial decision to Mairis Briedis. He said someone advised him that the only path to a mandatory championship fight was through King's stable. "He put the contract in front of me, 'you're signing this right now.' I was like 'no, I'm not'," Mikaelian recalled in the interview.

The fighter said he never received a formal offer for a proposed bout with David Benavidez despite agreeing to the matchup immediately. He accused King of withholding details about ongoing negotiations and pocketing purse money without transparency, which he described as a violation of the Muhammad Ali Act.

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Mikaelian said his new manager helped him navigate out of the promotional logjam. "I have to make a living, I have to fight. I can't wait forever. I'm already getting gray hair," he said. The winner of his upcoming fight with Opetaia could still face Benavidez in December or January, he added.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — ‘I can’t wait forever’: Noel Mikaelian talks about progressing his career in light of promotional turmoil