Germany's forgotten boxer makes history
Noel Mikaelian has made boxing history, becoming the first German since Max Schmeling more than 90 years ago to be crowned world champion in the USA. In Miami, the 33-year-old defeated his opponent Ilunga Makabu from the Congo by technical knockout in the third round to win the vacant WBC cruiserweight title. "I'm over the moon to finally have this green and gold WBC belt, the most prestigious, it's always been my dream," Mikaelian told sport.de/ntv.de after his World Championship triumph. "I didn't think it would be over so quickly. But I caught him well and then went after him to close it out."
After an uneventful opening round characterized by feeling things out, Mikaelian took command in the second round, sending the former world champion from the Congo into the ring dust with two ruthless right hands. Makabu got back to his feet and saved himself going into the break - shortly afterwards it was over.
In round three, Mikaelian caught the southpaw with a combination of six punches: Makabu went to the floor again, referee Gene Del Bianco then stopped the fight. It was Mikaelian's 27th win in his 29th professional fight, his twelfth by knockout, only in his previous big fights had he always come away empty-handed. In 2018, Mikaelian had lost in the quarter-finals of the "World Boxing Super Series" to the eventual tournament winner and IBF champion Mairis Briedis in a highly controversial points defeat, while in 2017 he lost to Poland's Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in a similarly controversial world championship elimination fight.
Victory brings Mikaelin more important fights
The WBC title in the weight class up to 90.72 kilograms was vacant because world champion Badou Jack had relinquished the title after his victory over Makabu in February. Mikaelian came into the fight as number one in the WBC rankings. With his victory over Makabu (WBC champion from 2020 to 2023), Mikaelian has put himself in position for further attractive fights in the cruiserweight division. With Arsen Goulamirian (WBA), Jai Opetaia (IBF) and Chris Billam-Smith (WBO), there are three rivals for the undisputed crown in the major federations.
Mikaelian is the first German since boxing icon Max Schmeling (1930) to win a world championship fight in the USA. The new world champion has lived in Miami since 2019 and competed in the world championship fight under the Armenian flag. Mikaelian was born in Yerevan in 1990 and grew up in Berlin and Hamburg. He has been a prizefighter since 2011.
Mikaelian's victory at the World Championships in Miami earned him the WBC cruiserweight title, making him the first German to achieve this feat in the USA since Max Schmeling over 90 years ago. His impressive victory against Ilunga Makabu from the Congo, secured by a technical knockout in the third round, positions him for more significant fights in the cruiserweight division.
Source: www.ntv.de
