Boxing
Noel Mikaelian earns WBC cruiserweight revenge in messy Badou Jack rematch
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Noel Mikaelian reclaimed his WBC cruiserweight crown in messy fashion on Saturday as he outpointed rival Badou Jack.
The German avenged his majority loss in May to the Swedish star with a unanimous decision triumph in Los Angeles.
Victory returns Mikaelian to the belt he previously lost after Jack was reinstated as WBC champion in late 2024.
But it came across a contentious bout where bad blood threatened to spill out on both sides in frequently dramatic fashion.
Both stars were docked points for illegal blows and had to be separated at the end of the eighth round by their corners.
Mikaelian looked the sharper operator throughout however, and entertained no doubts about his champion credentials.
The 35-year-old previously felt he was robbed onf a decision when he lost to Jack in a tight Riyadh bout seven months ago.
Now, the star will look to build on his success in 2026, with potential unification options against Gilberto Ramirez or Jai Opetaia.
Mikaelian vengeance further shakes up fractured division
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
It has felt like the cruiserweight division has ran in parallel lanes for much of the year, with the top stars split by belts and more.
Jai Opetaia has made no secret of the fact he has been frustrated in his attempts to secure a lucrative unification bout in 2025.
Now, with Noel Mikaelian sealing vengeance over Badou Jack, the WBC crown arguably comes back into play for the wider field.
The German's measure of victory may well stave off any trilogy option, and the star will surely want to test himself against the rest.
But with Chris Billam-Smith still considered one of the top operators at this weight class too, there's still so many questions to come.
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