Badou Jack faced Noel Mikaelian for the WBC cruiserweight title in a razor-close battle on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The contest featured as the co-main event of the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull fight.
Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian Recap and Highlights
Round 1
Jack probed the body early with jabs while Mikaelian appeared to be the bigger man in the ring. Both fighters were cautious, with few clean punches landed in a slow opening round.
Round 2
Jack increased his activity, connecting with a jab to the body and a straight left. Mikaelian answered late with a counter right and a clean left hook, closing the gap in a closely contested round.
A lovely moment ahead of Badou Jack’s bout in Riyadh pic.twitter.com/Itx0aojNF5
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Round 3
Mikaelian found success early with a right hand and combinations to the body, though many were blocked. Jack responded with a solid one-two, but Mikaelian seemed to edge the round with pressure and volume.
Round 4
Mikaelian continued his body attack, landing right hands with growing confidence. Jack moved forward, but Mikaelian’s counters kept him honest and slowed his momentum.
Round 5
The Armenian’s output increased as he attacked the body and forced Jack to respond. Mikaelian looked fresher, but Jack snuck in a big right hand that swung the round back in his favor.
Round 6
Jack found a rhythm, landing a series of right hands. He looked sharp and energetic, even at 41, pressuring Mikaelian and dictating the pace.
Round 7
Jack came out aggressive again, landing body shots in the clinch. Mikaelian jabbed frequently but lacked power. Jack’s cleaner, harder shots told the story of the round.
Round 8
Mikaelian tried to turn the tide with busy jabs and straight rights. Jack focused on the body, landing heavy shots as he chased Mikaelian around the ring in a round of contrasting styles.
Round 9
Jack landed with greater impact, while Mikaelian’s volume slightly increased. Both fighters exchanged, with Mikaelian later finding a home for his right hand.
Round 10
Jack absorbed a Mikaelian flurry without flinching. They exchanged body shots, and Jack’s fierce right hand appeared to shift momentum once again.
Round 11
Both fighters let their hands go. Jack successfully targeted the body, while Mikaelian answered with bursts of punches before clinching. The exchanges grew more intense.
Round 12
Mikaelian opened with urgency, landing combinations while circling away. Jack pressed forward, connecting with a final heavy right. Mikaelian ended with a spirited flurry, but Jack stood firm.
Badou Jack vs. Noel Mikaelian Results
Badou Jack retained his WBC cruiserweight belt by majority decision, scoring 114-114, 115-113, and 115-113. Despite landing around 30 more punches, Mikaelian couldn’t sway two judges of the three, who favored Jack’s accuracy, power, and consistent body work throughout the bout.
Badou Jack defeats Noel Mikaelian via majority decision and takes the WBC World Cruiserweight Title 🏆🇸🇪
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Jack, now 29-3-3, showed flashes of his prime, particularly in the later rounds. Mikaelian, who dropped to 27-3, displayed heart and volume but couldn’t definitively claim the rounds he needed to win.
With the victory, Jack remains a key figure in the cruiserweight division and could pursue a unification bout against either IBF and The Ring champ Jai Opetaia or WBA/WBO titleholder Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez.