After David Benavidez’s performance, a new spotlight has been put on the cruiserweight division. Talks about Jai Opetaia vs Benavidez to unify the WBO, WBA, and Ring belts have picked up, along with bigger discussions about a unified champion at cruiserweight. However, left out of these recent talks is WBC champion Norair Mikaeljan. Mikaeljan’s nickname, “Dark Horse,” fits his reputation. He has been fighting for a while, since 2011, but I learned of him from his fight with Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, where many observers and I thought he was brutally robbed. He later fought Mairis Briedis in a close, ugly fight that again many people, including myself, thought he also lost unfairly. Then he fought some solid names like Youri Kalenga and Ilunga Makabu for the vacant WBC title. He then lost his title against Badou Jack (vacant or franchise WBC holder, I’m not sure of the boxing politics terms) in another controversial decision. I thought it was a draw, but he definitely got his win back in the rematch, even though the rematch was one of my least favorite fights of 2025. I do think he could possibly put up a fight against Benavidez and Opetaia because he seems like a fighter who is well aware of his abilities and sticks to his game plan. He’s the kind of fighter who makes others look worse. He controls range with a simple jab, he is physically strong, and keeps a steady pace over 12 rounds, but he is limited offensively and doesn’t impose himself. But what are your opinions on him? Personally, I find him boring and a below-average champion. Am I missing something? Will the Dark Horse of the cruiserweight division unify?
I would have liked to see him fight Goulamirian. Personally, I think Mikaeljan is inferior to Benavidez, Opetaia, and even others like Zurdo Ramirez, Masternak, Cieslak, and Viddal Riley. For me, he's not number 3 in the weight class; he's in the top 8, maybe 7th or 8th. My reasoning? He make two with Badou Jack, who have 42 years old and past his prime, and he's also too much inactive Mikaeljan make only one fight per year...He is also frequently injured.
I agree, but I have Masternak lower than Mikaeljan because Masternak looks too old, sadly. I have Mikaeljan top 6.
