BADOU Jack has been ordered to defend his cruiserweight title against the WBC number-one-rated challenger, Ryan Rozicki. Known as ‘The Bruiser’, Rozicki boasts a 20-1-1 (19 KOs) record and it is now down to his team at Three Lions Promotions to negotiate a deal with Jack’s representatives.
If that deal is not agreed upon by February 4, the WBC will call for purse bids, which must take place within 60 days. Eager to thrash things out before that happens, Rozicki’s promoter, Daniel Otter, has already fired an offer over to get the ball rolling.
“We’re waiting to hear their counteroffer,” explained Otter.
“Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most exciting and hardest hitters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division.
“He wants the green WBC belt and, ultimately, to unify the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
Now sporting a 28-3-3 (17 KOs) slate, Dubai-based Jack turned 41 in October and has not fought since February 2023, a 12th-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu in Riyadh. It all got a little messy when Jack pursued a bridgerweight fight and Noel Mikaelyan defeated Makabu for the WBC belt.
Mikaelyan was supposed to defend that belt against Rozicki, but went missing due to injuries and legal issues, leading to Jack’s reinstatement as champion. Rozicki attempted to resolve the situation by boxing Yamil Peralta for the WBC Interim title, which ended in a draw (naturally), leaving us none the wiser.
Now Rozicki steps forth to fight Jack and Peralta was last said to be challenging Poland’s Michal Cieslak for the Interim title he failed to win against Rozicki – which was a rematch after their controversial first fight. It’s all worked out quite favourably for ‘The Ripper’, who will fancy his chances against Rozicki, a heavy-handed operator with a questionable past.
Final word to promoter Otter, who stated: “We respect Jack, and I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but he’s over 40 and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight).
“He brings a lot of experience and respect into the ring, but he’s going to be fighting a young buck with power. Jack is going to be in a world of trouble and, honestly, I don’t think he’ll get past the first few rounds.”
