Jai Opetaia ruthlessly knocks out WBC champion Noel Mikaelian… but does NOT walk away with the belt

JAI OPETAIA ruthlessly knocked out WBC champion Noel Mikaelian – but did not walk away with the belt due to painful boxing politics. The cruiserweight clash provided chief support in Las Vegas before Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn‘s welterweight world title headliner. Jai Opetaia looked horns with Noel Mikaelian on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn undercard Credit: GETTY The Aussie looked to make his first defence of the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight crown and ninth of his Ring Magazine belt Credit: Getty But the build-up was marred in controversy when Mikaelian’s promoter – controversial 95-year-old Don King – issued a cease and desist to try and block the bout. And to add insult to injury, Mikaelian faced being STRIPPED of the belt before a punch was even thrown because he sidestepped mandatory challenger David Benavidez. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! But Opetaia ended up facing off with Benavidez in the ring after stopping Mikaelian in round nine. Opetaia, 31, said: “He was as tough as nails, it was good to share the ring with him – but who is next? “He clipped me but I am used to it now, but I am still here and still undefeated.” The first round got off to an expected cagey opener as the opposing orthodox and southpaw stances clashed. Opetaia – feinting and fidgeting throughout – did threaten with his signature left hand, with one stabbing into the midriff of Mikaelian. Aussie Opetaia – a distance cousin of Everton legend Tim Cahill – landed a sweeping right hook in the second after the southpaw left missed. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It has already been a blockbuster year inside the ring, and it is not going to stop anytime soon! All eyes are focused on when Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will get in the ring, with the pair due to finally settle their decade-long rivalry. Conor Benn fights for his first world title one week later against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas – it is The Destroyer’s second bout for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. October’s action doesn’t stop either, with Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois facing off in the rematch of their thrilling fight in May, while Canelo Alvarez returns against Christian Mbili on Halloween. Here’s all the big fights coming up… September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN Sep 12 – Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian Sat 19 – Isaac Cruz vs Nestor Bravo – DAZN October Sat 3 – Ben Whittaker vs Conor Wallace – DAZN Sat 17 – Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 – DAZN Sat 31 – Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbili – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Mikaelian landed a chopping right hand in the third as Opetaia just struggled to get into a rhythm. The two-time IBF champion was left with bruising over his left eye following a clash of heads. Mikaelian scored with another clean right hand at the start of the fourth round – snapping Opetaia’s head back. But the Sydney leftie fired back with a combination of his own moments later, sparking a turning of the tide. Mikaelian, 35, slumped into his stool at the end of the fourth, bleeding from the nose. Opetaia further dented the Armenian champ in the fifth with a thudding left to the body followed up by a slashing right hook. Jai Opetaia began pummeling Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round Credit: GETTY The referee waved off the contest after giving Mikaelian a standing eight count Credit: Getty Heading into the second half of the contest and Opetaia began to bully Mikaelian on the inside and outboxing him from the outside. But he was forced to desperately grab and hold in the seventh when Mikaelian walked him onto a huge right hand. Opetaia managed to regain composure and control of the fight before the round closed – ending the best session of the bout. Boos rung around the T-Mobile Arena in the eighth when Mikaelian was granted a moment to recover following a low blow. But it soon turned to cheers when Opetaia closed the show out of nowhere in round nine. A left hand stiffened Mikaelian’s legs and forced him to grab on. Victory over Noel Mikaelian saw Jai Opetaia retain his Ring and Zuffa cruiserweight belts Credit: GETTY Opetaia had a mini face-off with David Benavidez in the ring after having his hand raised But sensing blood, ruthless finisher Opetaia unleashed a barrage of hooks to an almost defenceless Mikaelian. Mikaelian rocked into the ropes but was out on his feet as the referee waved the fight off five punches too late. Opetaia – who lost his IBF title in March when he made his Zuffa Boxing debut against Brandon Glanton – now looks set for a mega-fight against Benavidez. He said: “I respect Benavidez, he has done a lot for the sport. “He has said he is taking the fight now, he can’t take it back, so let’s go. Benavidez, 29, said: “I respect him so much; he’s the boogeyman of the division. We are going to give the fans a helluva’ fight.” Comment now