Unify the Cruiserweights!

So IBF belt-holder Opetaia wants Billam-Smith after the WBO holder defends his belt (presumably successfully) vs mandatory challenger Richard Riakporhe (who...?).

And Mikaelian defends his WBC belt June 7 against Ryan Rozicki.

Zurdo's still relatively fresh off his WBA-belt win vs. Goulamirian... but this is 2024, and we have the Saudis ready to make fights so we don't have to go years between title bouts.... so it's time to get him on the calendar for the winner of one of the above bouts....

I realize there's not as much $$ in the Cruisers, but.... they're managing to get it done (or at least narrowed down) in most of the other divisions. Enuff of the alphabet-soup mandatories bullshite.... get the Cruiser fights made and the belts unified.

 

The good news: The postponed bout between WBC Cruiser champ Noel Mikaelian and #1 contender Ryan Rozicki has finally been announced for Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Casino Miami Jai-Alai. The bad news: It's being handled by Don King.

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More details, courtesy Dan Raphael, on the 11/16 Riyadh Season unification bout between Zurdo and CBS, including:

- Assuming it doesn't fall thru, it'll be available on basic DAZN -- so no need for DAZN PPV (Yes!)
- Undercard would include a junior welterweight fight between former unified titlist Jose Ramirez and Arnold Barboza
- Southpaw William Zepeda, mandatory challenger for WBC lightweight titleholder Shakur Stevenson, "is also ticketed for the card"
- "also ... mentioned for the card": junior welterweight Oscar Duarte vs. Kenneth Sims Jr.

Winner of main card of course would unify the WBO and WBA Cruiser belts. Noel Mikaelian is scheduled to defend his WBC belt vs Ryan Rozicki in a Sept. 28 Miami bout (promoted by of all people Don King.... how is it he's still alive...?)

Whenever/however this alphabet soup is rationalized, the ultimate victor can't escape IBF beltholder Opetaia to get this division settled once and for all.

I'm lovin' me that Riyadh Season.....

https://danrafael.substack.com/p/no...&r=3ksrze&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

 

More of a crack at Riakporhe's tongue-twister name (with apologies to Mr. Riakporhe) than a comment on his talent or record. But, fair point....

And indeed I do pay attention to this division -- that's why I started this thread!

And I don't get the folks who think this is a BS division that shouldn't exist -- like some of the guys posting to this very thread!

I mean, when Rocky Marciano was a 189 lbs. heavyweight champ, it made sense to have a 175 lbs. light heavyweight limit and nothing in between that and heavyweight. Today, the average heavyweight is about 245 lbs.! You gonna put a 185-pounder in there ....?

 

Mikaelian v Rozicki postponed for the second time amid rumors Don King is ailing:

https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-b...midst-rumors-that-promoter-don-king-is-ailing

 

OK, now that Zurdo has CBS's old WBO belt to add to his existing WBA belt, you'd hope that he (or IBF belt-holder Opetaia) would get a shot at Mikaelian's WBC belt, which Mikaelian (after two postponements) was scheduled to defend Dec. 7 vs. Ryan Rozicki.

But wouldn't ya know.... Mikaelian's sidelined again. Is it another injury? No....

It's Don King (with an assist from his flunkie Sulaiman Jr.) freezing him up over a legal dispute: https://www.badlefthook.com/2024/10...m-title-fight-set-december-7-boxing-news-2024

Which raises the all-important question:

Why isn't Don King dead yet...?

(Oh, and it raises another question: When will Turki make a Zurdo-Opetaia fight happen?)