By Raffaele Fratto
In a grueling, yet tactical cruiserweight battle, Ring magazine and Zuffa champion, Jai Opetaia, became the first man to stop 2-time WBC champion Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round.
In a southpaw vs orthodox matchup, former 2-time IBF champ and current Ring/Zuffa champ, took on the now former 2-time WBC champ in a critical, difficult matchup. Early on, heads were clashing due to the opposing stances. Opetaia came away with swelling on his left eye and cheek bone. Mikaelian showed sublime skills, landing sneaky rights often, to further worsen the swelling on Opetaia. The first half of the fight didn’t see any dominance by either man, but perhaps each doing what they wanted here and there.
Suddenly in the seventh, Mikaelian landed a sharp right hand to rock Opetaia, forcing him to hold on wobbly legs. The hold turned into a tackle along the ropes. After rising, Mikaelian, couldn’t capitalize on his advantage and Opetaia got out of the round. Opetaia gradually regained control in the eighth. Suddenly, in the ninth, Mikaelian was rocked and did his own holding. Opetaia punched his way through the clinch and drove Mikaelian to the ropes which held him up. referee Harvey Dock ruled a knockdown by virtue of being held up by those ropes. Dock decided Mikaelian wasn’t responsive to his liking and waved it off, Mikaelian not protesting at all. The time was 1:30 of the ninth. Opetaia improves to 31-0, 24 KOs. Mikaelian falls to 28-4, 12 KOs. A mouth watering matchup looms as WBA/WBO cruiserweight champion David “The Mexican Monster” Benavidez entered the ring, gave Opetaia his props and teased the matchup as being next for both champs. Opetaia agreed. Let’s hope it happens!
