Badou Jack retains WBC cruiserweight title in Riyadh
BADOU Jack is the legitimate WBC cruiserweight champion, beating Noel Mikaelian by majority decision, taking home the title nobody wants to keep. It was a nip-and-tuck battle between two seasoned professionals. Nobuto Ikehara scored it 114-114, overruled by Pablo Gonzalez and Jose Manzur, who both scored it 115-113 to Jack.
Noel Mikaelian’s new trainer, Don Charles, implored his man to take control of the situation after a lazy couple of opening rounds. ‘The Dark Horse’ soaked up those instructions and chopped away at Jack’s body in the fourth round.
That investment strategy continued into the fifth in a bid to weaken Jack down the stretch. The experienced Swede stayed stoic, not falling for the flicking fists of Mikaelian that never stopped moving and twitching.
The Armenian was starting to suffer some damage under the right eye. Jack’s right hand found the target repeatedly in the sixth as Mikaelian got the jab moving. Referee Hector Afu sent out a headclash warning at the close of the round.
Jack’s head was back in play at the close of the seventh. It was the ‘Ripper’s’ body rips doing most of the damage, taking wind out of the Mikaelian sails.
“In the clinch, you’re going to sleep!” roared Don Charles between rounds as his man’s success lulled. Noel appeared to be complaining about tiredness between rounds. Was his big chance slipping away?
As if their man didn’t already know, Jack’s corner let him know that a firefight was developing as the 11th rolled into view. Referee Afu was on Mikaelian’s case again, warning for elbows. More to the point, Mikaelian regularly checked out in the clinches and veteran Jack took full advantage.
Both men raised their hands at the conclusion, but it was 41-year-old Jack who got the verdict in yet another close fight, improving his record to 29-3-3 (17 KOs). Mikaelian is now 27-3 (12 KOs).
