The Forgotten German Boxing Champ Takes on the World: Noel Mikaelian's Fierce Battle
The Unjust Journey of the Forgotten German Boxing Champion, Marked by Struggle
Join the conversation on Facebook | Twitter | WhatsApp | Email | Print | Copy LinkDoes losing a title outside the ring sound familiar? That's Noel Mikaelian's story. Stripped of his WBC belt by promoter Don King and a corrupt governing body, Mikaelian gets a shot at redemption.
Mikaelian seems to be mirroring the path of Graciano Rocchigiani, who died in 2018 after his title was taken away. But unlike "Rocky," Mikaelian has a chance to turn the tables.
In 2002, Rocchigiani won a grueling trial against the corrupt WBC and claimed $31 million in damages. However, the WBC had snatched the light heavyweight title from Rocchigiani four years earlier, placing it on Roy Jones Jr. after a victory over Michael Nunn. The move cost Rocchigiani opportunities for lucrative fights, but Mikaelian's predicament might have been even worse.
Reflecting on his struggles, Mikaelian told Boxsport in February, "What happened to me might have been even worse." If fate had been kinder, Mikaelian might have been battling for justice in court instead of in the boxing ring. But let's rewind.
Controversial Losses & Desperate Comeback
By the end of 2023, Mikaelian stood victorious. In Miami, he knocked out Ilunga Makabu from the Congo in the third round to claim the WBC title in the cruiserweight division. This marked the first German champion in the USA since Max Schmeling in 1930. A long-awaited triumph for the Hamburg native.
But Mikaelian's ascent to the pinnacle was marred by promoters and judges fixing critical fights. In 2017, he controversially lost to Polish local hero Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, and in 2018 he lost dubiously on points to Latvian Mairis Briedis. These losses in the World Boxing Super Series left Mikaelian in a mental and existential crisis.
seeking a fresh start, Mikaelian parted ways with his long-time promoter Sauerland and moved to Miami to take charge of his career. He later claimed that the WBC had betrayed him in the Briedis fight: "I only found out later because I made friends with the federations, traveled there, and observed how everything works."
Despite this knowledge, Mikaelian approached the WBC with an olive branch. Years of climbing the rankings and reclaiming a title shot followed. The WBC encouraged Mikaelian to sign with Don King to secure the title. Under pressure, Mikaelian made a deal with the 93-year-old boxing mogul in 2022.
Fast track: The signature guaranteed his WM chance. In November 2023, Mikaelian bit his lip and threw punches at Makabu (also a King boxer) until the referee declared him the winner. Making history as Germany's Cruiserweight champion once more, Mikaelian was ready for a flourishing boxing career.
The Golden Opportunity Soured
Tragedy struck two weeks before Mikaelian's scheduled first title defense. During a sparring session, he sustained a cut over his eye. This forced a six-week rest, postponing the fight to the fall. "First, it was supposed to be September 14, so I went back into training, then it was September 28. Two weeks before the fight, while I was making weight to meet a WBC pre-fight weight, I got a call from the opposing team saying the fight was canceled because I didn't want to fight," recalls Mikaelian. Conversation with Don King proved futile.
Rocky's shattered dreams: Mikaelian hired a lawyer and demanded to be released from his contract, leading to a looming legal battle.
A Symphony of Corruption
At the WBC congress in Mikaelian's hometown of Hamburg, the functionaries demoted the German to "Champion in Recess" by the end of 2024. A one-of-a-kind title in professional boxing, signifying a champion in retirement. "Supposedly because I'm in a legal dispute with Don King," Mikaelian explains the reason for his demotion. "I called the WBC president and said I don't want a legal dispute and I'm withdrawing my lawyer, that we'll try to settle this internally with Don King. They didn't listen."
Instead, the world organization reinstated Badou Jack as the "regular" WBC champion - even though the Swede had vacated the title at the beginning of 2023 and hadn't boxed since. The functionaries forced Jack to defend a title he no longer wanted to defend. Against whom? Correct: Ryan Rozicki. Mikaelian was promised a shot at the winner.
"That's corruption," says Mikaelian, well-versed in law.
A New Beginning in Riyadh
Fate stepped in once more when Rozicki suffered an injury and pulled out of the fight against Jack, scheduled for May 3 in Riyadh. The WBC reached out to Mikaelian, who accepted the last-minute opportunity to fight for his throne. "I'm going to Riyadh to set things right," Mikaelian declared, reflecting on the series of unfinished fights and preparations he had endured. "So many fights and preparations that I started but couldn't finish. But I am the legitimate WBC champion, and I'm just defending what's mine."
Mikaelian steps into the ring this weekend as an underdog, determined to shine on the world stage. Sharing the card with superstar Canelo Álvarez, Mikaelian aims to make a strong impression and revive the cruiserweight division. His opponent, Jack, is fast due to his lighter weight class background, but Mikaelian counts on his experience to guide him through the 12 rounds.
Big fights, not titles, are Mikaelian's focus now. "I've already had the best WM belt, the green WBC belt that Ali and Foreman had - it's just hanging around, collecting dust, and it's not even gold. I'm not interested in belts anymore." Mikaelian is after stages, sponsorship, and the quality of fights to improve his standard of living. Let's hope the odds lean in his favor this time.
- Despite being a boxer with a questionable restructuring of his title, Mikaelian shares the same determination as the legendary Rocky.
- In the world of sports-betting and sports-analysis, Mikaelian's murky title loss and comeback tale have drawn considerable interest.
- The code 0ebd0c5e5936ca8d3ef8f4b355ad858b could potentially symbolize Mikaelian's ongoing legal dispute in his quest for justice.
- As the cruiserweight division awaits Mikaelian's clash with Badou Jack in Riyadh, the underdog's primary aim lies not in the world championships but in securing significant battles for a better standard of living.
