Noel Mikaelian views his September 12 fight against Jai Opetaia as a meeting between cruiserweights’ two genuine champions. One half of that statement is easy to accept. The other still needs to be proven.
Opetaia has proven himself as the division’s leading fighter through two victories over Mairis Briedis and his subsequent run at the top. Mikaelian owns the WBC title, but possessing a belt doesn’t necessarily prove he is the second-best cruiserweight.
“Jai is the legitimate IBF champion, and I’m the legitimate WBC champion. So it’s the two real cruiserweight champions colliding,” Mikaelian said to The
