Mikaelian’s Title in Jeopardy | Boxing News

Noel Mikaelian’s WBC cruiserweight title hangs in the balance as the organization names David Benavidez as his mandatory challenger, forcing him into a high-stakes dilemma. Scheduled to fight Jai Opetaia on September 12th, Mikaelian claims he never received a contract after agreeing to face Benavidez — and waited over 60 days before moving forward with Opetaia due to promoter delays. He argues the designation is unfair since Benavidez is already a champion elsewhere, and questions why he’d be stripped for taking a major draw. If stripped, the title could become vacant or go to a Benavidez vs. Michal Cieslak clash. Mikaelian insists he’s still open to facing Benavidez after Opetaia — possibly in December or January — and remains laser-focused on his upcoming bout while fighting to keep his belt. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1228549f8af44929