Badou Jack Edged Mikaelian
Badou Jack retained the WBC cruiserweight championship against Noel Mikaelian on the May 3, 2025, Riyadh card. Their twelve-round contest ended by majority decision, with two judges favoring Jack 115–113 and the third returning a 114–114 draw.
Experience and efficiency met a higher work rate
Mikaelian threw more punches during the competitive contest, while Jack’s cleaner work persuaded two judges to favor the veteran. Neither fighter established a sufficiently decisive advantage to produce a unanimous verdict.
The result moved Jack to twenty-nine victories, three defeats and three draws. Mikaelian’s record became twenty-seven wins and three losses after an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the championship.
Both men had reached the title through Makabu
Jack had stopped Ilunga Makabu in the twelfth round in February 2023. He subsequently vacated the cruiserweight belt while considering a move to bridgerweight.
Mikaelian then defeated Makabu in November 2023. After later being designated champion in recess because of inactivity and contractual problems, he faced a reinstated Jack in Riyadh, replacing the injured Ryan Rozicki.
The December rematch reversed the outcome
They met again at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles on December 13, 2025. This time, Mikaelian won by unanimous decision and regained the WBC championship.
The judges scored the return contest 116–110, 116–110 and 115–111. Their two meetings therefore produced different title outcomes: Jack preserved the belt through a narrow majority verdict in Riyadh, while Mikaelian secured a clearer decision in the rematch.
Sources
- WBC: competitive first fight, scores, records and Makabu history
- WBC: recess status, reinstatement and Rozicki replacement
- WBC: May 3 record and December 13 rematch date
- FIGHTMAG: rematch victory and actual unanimous scores
