WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Gevor Mikaelian a/k/a Norair Mikaelian visited the WBC in Mexico City to receive the championship belt he earned back in December by dethroning Badou Jack. It was sweet revenge for Miakelian who lost a disputed majority decision to Jack earlier in the year. Accompanied in Mexico City by his manager, Anthony Girges, the slim yet powerful Mikaleian who reportedly speaks Armenian, German, French, Russian and English, delighted the WBC crowd by addressing them in Spanish.

 

Mikaelian has only lost to champions: Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, Mairis Briedis and first time around to Badou Jack. All three losses were close and competitive points defeats. Mikaelian said of them: “I don’t see them as losses. They were just fights. I won them in the ring. I didn’t get the decisions. They are just paper losses. Champions focus upon moving on. Practically, I’m undefeated.”

 

As for the future, Mikaelian said, “We are looking to unify the titles, so we are looking to fight [IBF champion] Jai Opetaia or one of the other champions [the only other champion is Gilberto Ramirez, who holds thew WBA and WBO titles]. Boxing is ninety percent mental. I know I can defeat Opetaia and it’ll be the toughest contest for him. He wants a stay busy fight right now, which I don’t understand. A unification is what the fans want and what the division needs. I myself feel great, and in the heavier divisions, you mature later and I feel at my strongest. But, boxing is like a chess match. It’s even more mental than physical. Everyone has a good preparation, so you have to outsmart them and be clever."