A Noel Mikelian vs Jai Opetaia Unification Begins Brewing!
Call it sweet revenge as Noel Mikaelian is once again a world champion. Heading into 2026, the Armenian cruiserweight appears to have one clear objective: a unification clash with IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia.
Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) reclaimed world honors in his most recent outing, capturing the WBC cruiserweight title via unanimous decision over Badou Jack (29-4-3, 17 KOs). The judges scored the bout 116-110, 116-110, and 115-111 in Mikaelian’s favor at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, California.
It was a rough, rugged contest that saw both fighters penalized for fouls. However, the difference became apparent in the second half of the fight, where the younger, fresher Mikaelian began to assert control. Jack, now 42 years old, showed flashes of his old grit but ultimately looked like a fighter nearing the end of the road—raising legitimate questions about whether retirement should be his next move.
Both Mikaelian and Opetaia (29-0, 23 KOs) have made their intentions clear: they want each other. Opetaia is currently recovering from a fractured eye socket suffered during his eighth-round knockout of Huseyin Cinkara on December 6 in Australia. Despite the injury, early indications strongly suggest that a Mikaelian vs Opetaia unification bout could materialize by the middle of next year.
If it does, it would represent one of the most meaningful and high-level matchups in the cruiserweight division and a chance to begin crowning an undisputed king.
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