Noel Mikaelian faces Jai Opetaia on 12 September in a bout the WBC champion views as the true championship fight at cruiserweight. The contest links two leading figures in the division to determine who holds ultimate supremacy in the weight class.
Opetaia established his position at the summit of cruiserweight boxing through a pair of victories over Mairis Briedis. Although the Australian no longer holds the IBF title, his credentials at the top of the division are widely recognized. Mikaelian possesses the WBC belt, giving him significant credibility, yet he enters this bout still seeking to prove he is Opetaia’s main challenger.
Speaking to The Ring about the September fight, Mikaelian emphasized the stature of both men in the ring. He said: “Jai is the legitimate IBF champion, and I’m the legitimate WBC champion. So it’s the two real cruiserweight champions colliding,” Mikaelian sees the matchup as a direct clash between the division’s two genuine leaders rather than a routine defense.
The cruiserweight division has grown increasingly congested. David Benavidez moved up in weight to capture the WBA and WBO titles, placing himself directly into the championship debate.
Despite Benavidez holding two belts, the division hierarchy remains unsettled heading into September. Mikaelian feels his own background against mutual opponents strengthens his claim. When discussions turn to Opetaia’s double triumph over Briedis, the WBC champion points back to his own 2018 encounter with the Latvian fighter.
Reflecting on that 2018 bout, Mikaelian said: “I beat Briedis too though,” Mikaelian officially lost that fight by unanimous decision, but he has consistently argued that he deserved the decision on the scorecards.
The upcoming fight on 12 September gives Mikaelian the ideal chance to resolve all debate. Defeating Opetaia would remove any doubt regarding his status in the division, securing a clear claim as the top cruiserweight without needing to point to past decisions or disputed belts.
