WBC orders Noel Mikaelian to fight David Benavidez or lose belt

The WBC has given cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian a direct ultimatum — face unified titleholder David Benavidez in a mandatory defense or surrender the belt.

The directive from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman came moments after BoxingScene reported that the Armenian champion was closing in on a deal to meet Zuffa Boxing champion Jai Opetaia later this year. Sulaiman cited Mikaelian's broken commitment to make a voluntary defense more than six months after he claimed the strap from Badou Jack in Los Angeles. "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 in his letter to both camps.

Benavidez pursues undisputed cruiserweight status

Benavidez, who holds both the WBC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light-heavyweight and cruiserweight titles, visited WBC headquarters in Mexico this week and made clear he is focused solely on becoming undisputed at 200 pounds. His promoter Sampson Lewkowicz filed a petition ten days ago requesting the mandatory order, drawing on WBO rules that allow a reigning champion to request contender placement in the division directly above or below his current weight class. According to Lewkowicz, talks for a Benavidez-Bivol unification at light-heavyweight have stalled after an offer to promoter Eddie Hearn went unanswered. Per BoxingScene, Benavidez turned down a chance to face Opetaia, preferring instead to pursue all four major belts at cruiserweight.

Mikaelian holds a 28-3 record with 12 knockouts but has not defended since beating Jack. His team remains at odds with promoter Don King, according to Sulaiman's letter. If the champion opts not to meet Benavidez, the unbeaten Phoenix fighter would likely face Poland's Michal Cieslak next in a WBC eliminator. "If the champion doesn't fight Benavidez, he'll most likely get stripped," Lewkowicz told BoxingScene. "From now on, it's all about legacy."

Benavidez carries a perfect 32-0 mark with 26 stoppages and is eyeing a November return. The WBC's ruling comes one month after the IBF stripped Opetaia of his belt for signing with Zuffa Boxing and defeating Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas.

Source: boxingscene.com