Mikaelian Reclaims WBC Cruiserweight Title from Jack

Noel Mikaelian reclaimed the WBC cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Badou Jack in their rematch Saturday night at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, avenging a controversial loss from earlier this year and setting the stage for potential unification bouts in the division.

The 12-round bout, which headlined a Prime Video pay-per-view event, ended with judges scoring it 116-110 twice and 115-111 for Mikaelian, now 28-3 with 12 knockouts. Jack, a former three-division champion, fell to 29-4-3 with 17 knockouts. The fight unfolded as a gritty, foul-plagued affair marked by clinches, rabbit punches and exchanges after the bell, drawing warnings and point deductions from retiring referee Jerry Cantu. Mikaelian lost a point in the seventh round for hitting behind the head, while Jack was penalized in the eighth for striking on the break. Tensions peaked late in that round when the fighters continued swinging as they leaned on the ropes, prompting a brief stoppage that nearly led to a double disqualification.

Mikaelian, the 28-year-old Armenian, started strong with crisp combinations and hand speed, tagging Jack early and maintaining initiative through the...