[Perhaps in a bid to block Zuffa Boxing from making a fight between uncrowned cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian], WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says a three-belt cruiserweight fight between Mikaelian and WBA / WBO champion David Benavidez (pictured) would be a an absolute classic. [Bneavidez still holds the WBC light heavyweight title, and Zuffa Boxing is openly seeking to devalue the four major sanctioning bodies, including the WBC].

 

According to the WBC: Mikaelian hasn’t been able to secure a voluntary defense and the WBC  has ordered him to fight a mandatory against Benavidez. Also the WBC light heavyweight champion, Benavidez surged up to cruiserweight where he took on and defeated Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez  via a dazzling sixth-round TKO, to become a three-division champion. Benavidez and his team have forwarded a petition to the WBC for this showdown vs. Mikaelian, who [the WBC says] has accepted and is keen to show his mettle.

 

Sulaiman said: “This is a huge moment for Boxing. David Benavidez has... requested to fight for the WBC cruiserweight title. This is humbling, and we will do everything possible to have this fight happen as soon as possible. Noel had a voluntary defense approved, which didn’t happen, so he must now make a mandatory defense. It’s great three belts will be contested. We are looking for a unification, and then an undisputed champion. Noel is a great champion and David is a great champion. It’s a fight of champion vs. champion.”