Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the WBC cruiserweight Division has faced extremely complicated circumstances.
In February of 2023 Badou Jack conquered the WBC World Cruiserweight Championship by defeating then champion Ilunga Makabu. Soon thereafter, champion Jack petitioned the WBC to place him as champion in recess so he could try to schedule a fight for the WBC world bridgerweight title. Champion Jack’s attempts were unsuccessful. He is now looking to return to the cruiserweight division.
In the meantime, Noel Mikaelian won the vacant WBC world cruiserweight title knocking out Ilunga Makabu. The WBC ordered champion Mikaelian to make his first mandatory defense after having won a vacant title against mandatory contender Ryan Rozicki who had won a final elimination bout via knockout of Olanrewaju Durodola.
Champion Mikaelian’s promoter of record, Don King Promotions, contracted the Mikaelian vs Rozicki fight to take place in Miami on June 7, 2024. Unfortunately, Champion Mikaelian sustained a sparring injury just 10 days before that fight.
DKP rescheduled the fight for September 28, 2024 also in Miami. Very unfortunately, DKP’s principal Don King experienced health issues severed enough not to be able to promote the event.
After thoroughly evaluating all the facts and having engaged in numerous communications with both camps, the WCB ordered a purse bid for the Mikaelian vs Rozicki bout. 3 Lion Promotions attended the purse bid ceremony which did not have to take place as both camps informed the WBC that they had reached an agreement.
The fight was then scheduled for December 7 in Canada. 3Lions Promotions produced bout contracts, contracted the arena, arranged for broadcast production, and incurred other substantial expenses. After all that effort, now it turns out that champion Mikaelian is unavailable to participate in the fight against Rozicki due to an ongoing legal dispute with his promoter Don King Productions.
The WBC Board of Governors has voted unanimously to support the petition from 3 Lion Promotions to approve an interim championship between Rozicki and the #2 contender Yamil Peralta from Argentina. That bout is a rematch of their highly controversial fight back in 2022.
The Rozicki vs. Peralta fight for the WBC interim world cruiserweight title will take place on December 7 in Canada.
The WBC Board of Governors will review the complete situation all weight categories during the upcoming annual convention in Hamburg. Germany from December 8-14.
This is getting ridiculous. Rozicki & Peralta should be fighting again, that’s fine. They should probably strip Mikaelian though, but how could they make sense of that move, given how long the WBC allowed Jermall Charlo despite not fighting.
Another ‘interim’ circus, this ‘four belt era’ is great isn’t it? The Ramirez – Billam-Smith winner will likely fight Opetaia which will establish a clear champion. Leave the WBC to their irrelevant circle jerk.
WBC = “We Be Corrupt” per Teddy Atlas……….
The town I grew up in is hosting this. I am so happy for them!!! If my circumstances were different I would be tempted to go back and see.
Glad Rozicki and Peralta are getting that rematch. Thought Peralta won their first fight 96-93. Will see if Rozicki can make adjustments – Peralta has a spoiler style of hit/move/hold that is poison to a come forward fighter like Rozicki. Peralta rightfully lost a point for all his clutching and grabbing in the first fight, wonder if he’ll be allowed to get away with it again.
Mikaelyan seems like a part time fighter at this point (only five fights in six years), the WBC should not let him hold the belt hostage given his history of inactivity.
Mikaelyan got screwed by signing with Don King. The promoter canceled his fight because he didn’t feel well. What promoter cancels a fight because he’s personally under the weather? Then his fight falls through due to litigation. Poor guy is a victim of his own bad decisions. Even Johnathan Guidry had to cut ties with Don King.
The first fight was in the top five most corrupt boxing matches I’ve ever seen. That point deduction you’re referring to came in the last round, the same round that Ryan hit him about a dozen times in the back of the head in a row intentionally, and was plowing into him and driving him into the ropes….. For which no point was deducted. But that’s to be expected when all the Judges and the Referee were from Nova Scotia, Ryan’s home province ( fight is on YouTube for anyone interested ).
Ryan has improved his skills a ton, and has gotten a lot further than I ever thought he would considering where he started out. But unless he’s learned to cut the ring off and maintain his composure when things aren’t going his way, I don’t see this fight going any better for him. There’s a reason his team avoided this rematch until now, stylistically this is the worst opponent Ryan can be up against……. Even going back to his amateur days he’s struggled against guys who kept turning him and tied him up when he does manage to close the distance.
I hope Ryan wins. But this is a terrible matchup.