Badou Jack vs Noel Mikaelien confirmed
WBC cruiserweight champion In Recess Noel Mikaelien will replace Ryan Rozicki, to take on Absolute WBC cruiserweight Badou Jack on May 3.
Last week, Ryan Rozicki announced through a press release, that due to a bicep injury which requires surgery, he won’t be able to fight Jack for the WBC cruiserweight championship. The chosen one to replace the Canadian is Noel Gevor Mikaelien.
Mikaelien won the WBC cruiserweight in 2023, when he knocked out Ilunga Makabu in the third round. But due to contractual problems, he was named as a recess champion at the last WBC convention, held in Hamburg, Germany.
His first title defence was scheduled to be against Ryan Rozicki in June 2024, but due to another injury the fight did not take place.
The fight was attempted twice more, once in September and again in December, but was cancelled by Mikaelien.
The WBC announced that Noel Gevor would be champion in recess and reinstated Badou Jack as champion.
Mikaelien comes into the bout with a professional record of 27-2 with 12 KOs.
Badou, who has not fought since 2023, holds a record of 28-3-3 with 17 KOs.
