David Benavidez could be one step closer to adding another world title, with the WBC ordering cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian to face him next.
Benavidez recently moved up to cruiserweight and stopped Gilberto Ramirez to win the WBA and WBO titles, while still holding the WBC light heavyweight belt. Now the WBC has named him mandatory challenger at 200lbs, putting Mikaelian under pressure to defend or lose his title.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman made the situation clear. “The WBC order is Mikaelian against Benavidez. That’s it. If he takes another fight, he is relinquishing his obligations with the WBC.”
Mikaelian has also been linked to a fight with Jai Opetaia, but choosing that route could cost him the WBC belt. If he refuses Benavidez, interim champion Michal Cieslak could either be elevated or ordered into a vacant title fight against Benavidez.
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