Don King Promotions recently announced through a press release that Noel Mikaelian, once the WBC cruiserweight champion who found himself sidelined following a legal wrangle with King, is set to go up against Isaiah Thompson on May 17th in Florida.
King stated that Mikaelian, with a record of 27 wins, 2 losses, and 12 knockouts, will be vying for the “Diamond” title. This designation is one among the lesser known titles the WBC trots out on occasion during major events. However, labeling this matchup as a major bout seems like a stretch. Thompson, holding a 10-4-2 record with 9 KOs, recently suffered a loss to Juan Carlos Raygosa, whose career boasts 22 wins, 23 losses, and 2 draws in a six-round contest. Thompson doesn’t even place in BoxRec’s top 250 in the cruiserweight category.
Meanwhile, the WBC’s own website still mentions Mikaelian as a “champion in recess,” leaving his exact standing in the rankings somewhat in limbo. Presently, Badou Jack, who was given the belt back after Mikaelian’s troubles, is slated to defend it against Ryan Rozicki next month. Interestingly, the WBC recently instructed Stephen Fulton to face another champion-in-recess, Rey Vargas, suggesting that Mikaelian might have a shot at bouncing back swiftly after, ostensibly, making quick work of Thompson.
Moreover, the press release brought to light that Blair Cobbs, who has a 17-1-1 record with 10 knockouts, is expected to make his return to the ring as well. This marks his second fight since 2022.
