At the beginning of May, Noel Mikaelian in Riad took the shorter one. Although the German war of cruisers against the Badou Jack from Sweden determined the German World Cup, Mikaelian lost points. It was the third controversial defeat in his career. After all, thanks to a protest at the WBC WHBC association, the 34-year-old will receive a revenge this year.
In an interview with sport.de Looks back on the first fight against Jack, reports of “dirty tricks” of the string pullers in Saudi Arabia and explains why the retirement becomes “easy Work” for him. He also has a clear opinion about boxing influencer Jake Paul.
Noel, her controversial point defeat against Badou Jack in the fight for the WBC title in cruiser weight, was around three months ago. How did you digest the whole thing?
I recovered very well because I have had the experience twice. This is the third time that I was shit in a big fight, the second time by the WBC and this time also a title that was wrongly withdrawn.
They accepted the fight against Jack at short notice and had no three weeks of preparation. How difficult was that?
It was two and a half weeks of training, two time zones and then they also unpacked dirty tricks in Riad. In the end I had to fight at five in the morning, although the regular meeting was arranged that the fight was before two o’clock. Accordingly, I always set myself up to three, a maximum of four o’clock in the days before – and on the last day I had to fight at five o’clock. That was threaded 100 percent by the opposing camp. But that was not the only one who did everything possible …
… what else did you dislike?
The referee! Jack kept piking me, the REF did not warn him for deep blows. On the other hand, he warned me for every little thing.
So I climbed into the ring tired and yet Jack couldn’t harm me. The whole world saw me win, except the three judges. Frank Warren called to me from outside into the ring. He showed three fingers and said I had won with at least three rounds and should tear my hands up. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman then came to me and, before the announcement of the judgment, said whether he could see ‘Sportsmanship’ from me. Why does he ask me that? I already knew that the whole thing was not kosher and threaded, also with Turki al-Heikh …
… The Saudi Box Mogul, who organized the fight evening …
Yes. He was in the cabin before the fight at Jack, not for me, they were together in Mecca, but did not post the photos. All of these little things. The week before the fight, they sent me to the doctor for three hours on Wednesday, although I had already done the medical check, I should make up for it. I had to make weight three times a week. And yet all these tricks Jack didn’t help: I still beat him, even though I was tired and only had two and a half weeks of training. And now I have received the revenge because we took protest at the WBC.
Boxing: Mikaelian is waiting for confirmation for Rematch deal
She had some prominent advocates that she saw in front after the fight.
Julio Cesar Chavez Senior, the Mexican boxing legend, came to me and said: You won the fight. Chavez Senior then personally called WBC boss Sulaiman and spoke his word about it. Now I have the rematch, focus on it. With a real training camp, this time it will be easy Work for me.
You have now often seen the fight in tape. What judgment do you come to?
I see myself 9: 3 or 8: 4 rounds in front, i.e. 117: 111 or 116: 112. I won the first five rounds. Jack won six and seven, I was really dead, I also said that to my coach Don Charles in the corner. Then he shaked me up and I won eight and nine. In my opinion, I also won the tenth, eleven he and twelve again me. Even if you give Jack one or the other round because of his name, I am still 115:113 in front, as the DAZN commentator saw. The fan scorecards on Boxrec.com are also clear. According to statistics, I also beat Jack, gave up more blows and landed more hits. Boxing is meet and not hit.
Is there still something you could have done better in the ring in the ring?
I could have done a lot better! But the circumstances were just as they were. When was there in boxing history a world champion that takes on a World Cup fight with three weeks of preparation?
What are your plans for the revenge struggle now, what is the stand?
The rematch was arranged, the negotiations are underway. I am only waiting for the confirmation of the date and the place. The deal must stand in mid -August. Dubai, England or Los Angeles are under discussion, although La would be best for me. Let’s see. I am waiting for the confirmation, then I go to the training camp – this time at least six or seven weeks. And then I’ll get the title again!
You know the business – can something still come in there?
There can always be something in between, an injury or maybe Jack will get his pants (laughs). I hope I get through the preparation free of injury and also so that I can get my title back.
What role did your promoter Don King play in the protest to the WBC – was it an advantage to be under contract with the old sponsor?
Actually not, we submitted the protest directly by my manager. Don King is only angry that Turki al-Heikh ripped him over the table that his fighter lost to points. But I can’t trust promoters. As I said: Julio Cesar Chavez called, Frank Warren has positioned himself – these are not little people. Thomas Pütz (President of the Federation of German Professional Boxer BdB, editor’s note) told me that the supervisor of the other world associations also had me ahead. All of this helped the protest.
Don King still has influence. But it seems that Sulaiman and the WBC somehow broke out and now show Turki al-Heikh more loyalty.
Video: Don King keeps Boxer “Like Little Putch”
How do you start the revenge boxing?
Especially with fitness training. Before the first fight, I only had sparring three times, twice six and once ten laps. Then I will be on the safe side and box it as I do against Ilunga Makabu (at Mikaelian’s World Cup victory at the end of 2023, editor) I was boxing – just discard the opponent. I am faster, bigger than him and also hurt him, once he almost got to his knees. He will probably be very careful this time. But I will come up with something with my trainer. With a normal training camp and conditioning training, the matter should be easy Peasy this time. Jack couldn’t beat me in my worst shape – how should he beat me in the best form?!
Do you want to train with the English star coach Don Charles again?
No, this time I will probably train with my home trainer Pedro Diaz again. I went to Don Charles last time because he was on his way from the USA to Riad in London, so to speak, and was only two and a half weeks. Pedro Diaz would never have done that, he advised me against it.
Noel Mikaelian pays Jake Paul respect
Is this revenge against Jack her last chance of a World Cup title and the big pötte in cruiser weight?
Oh, it is always sold in boxing. Why then? So many fights are possible. I don’t think that’s my last chance.
Well, if you lose clearly, you will be out for the next few years …
… but that won’t happen! So we do not stand up. Failure is not at the option!
Conversely: With one win, they would be back in the middle of the raffle for big fights against the other world champions Jai Opetaia and Gilberto Ramirez …
That would of course be ideal. Association fights. Otherwise there is not much in cruiser weight. Or Jake Paul (laughs).
You address the YouTuber. In the media it was read that Don King prevented Jake Paul’s application from the WBC so that the association made an exception, and Paul allowed a World Cup fight. What kind of number was that?
No idea, Don called me and told me that I was offered to do without the World Cup fight for Step-Aside-Money. Jake Paul then published a statement that this was a lie. Now you have to see who says the truth. I know Jake Paul’s ex-coach with whom I am friends. So I know: Paul has no interest in boxing me, but maybe he’ll see a chance at Badou Jack.
But personally there was no offer on the table to forego the revenge against Jack for amount X, as Don King spread?
No, that wasn’t on the table.
What do you think of Jake Paul, a social media star who has almost only boxed against old men and is now challenging everyone from Oleksandr Usyk to Anthony Joshua?
It’s all just marketing strategy! In his fights, he keeps straight ahead of water that he can appear with real people and see that he is there, in the middle of the action. A clever marketing.
Suppose Paul would be in the ring with them – wouldn’t you play cat and mouse with him?
Yes, yes. Jake Paul turned out very well. He can box, but he is not even a B-level boxer. His last fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Junior was probably also arranged, in the last round it was seen that Chavez had to hold back in part. Jake Paul is a very good promoter, probably even the best at the moment. That’s why you have to pay him respect, I take my hat off to him, he knows how to do coal.
Martin Armbruster spoke to Noel Mikaelian