Home / Sports / Opetaia Dominates Mikaelian, Eyes Benavidez Showdown
Opetaia Dominates Mikaelian, Eyes Benavidez Showdown
13 Sep
Summary
- Jai Opetaia defeated Noel Mikaelian by TKO in the ninth round.
- David Benavidez entered the ring post-fight to suggest unification.
- Opetaia defended his Ring and Zuffa cruiserweight titles.
Jai Opetaia delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, defeating WBC champion Noel Mikaelian by TKO in the ninth round. The victory, which took place at T-Mobile Arena, solidified Opetaia's position as one of boxing's premier cruiserweights.
Following the bout, WBA champion David Benavidez entered the ring and expressed his interest in a title unification clash, suggesting a potential May showdown. Opetaia, a native of Sydney, Australia, successfully defended his Ring and Zuffa cruiserweight titles, though Mikaelian's WBC title was not on the line due to promotional disputes.
Opetaia controlled the fight, outlanding Mikaelian significantly according to CompuBox statistics. The referee stopped the fight after Mikaelian was unable to continue following a series of punches, marking the first knockout loss of Mikaelian's career. Opetaia overcame a brief scare in the seventh round to secure the decisive victory.
