The WBC made numerous attempts and undertook countless efforts to bring all interested parties together toward reaching the necessary agreements to satisfy all requests proposed for sanctioning bouts compliant with the WBC Rules, orders, and rulings.
After communicating with all parties involved regarding the Noel Mikaelian v. Jai Opetaia bout, the WBC Board of Governors determined that among all available courses of action, the ones most compliant with the WBC’s prior orders are the following rulings and orders:
1. Declare vacant the WBC Cruiserweight World Title;
2. Elevate WBC Interim Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak to WBC World Champion;
3. Confirm the WBC’s sanctioning of the mandatory defense of Champion Cieslak’s title against David Benavidez; and
4. Order that the winner of the Mikaelian v. Opetaia bout would become the Mandatory Contender of the division to fight next the winner of the upcoming bout between Cieslak and Benavidez.
Consistent with the WBC’s order set forth above, the winner of that bout must face next Jay Opetaia, who won his bout last Saturday September 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
