WBC Orders Rematch Between Norair Mikaelian and Badou Jack for the Championship Title

On Monday, June 2, 2025, the World Boxing Council (WBC) officially announced an immediate rematch in the cruiserweight title bout between current champion Badou Jack and challenger Norair Mikaelian. The decision follows a controversial outcome in their previous fight held last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In the first bout, Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs) retained the title with a majority decision: 115-113, 115-113, and a 114-114 draw. However, Armenian boxer Mikaelian (27-3, 12 KOs) filed an appeal with the WBC, disputing the result.

“The world knows I was better in the first fight, that’s why a rematch was ordered,” Mikaelian told The Ring. “I had only three weeks to prepare, had to travel across three countries and multiple time zones, and the fight time was moved from 2 AM to 5 AM — and still he couldn’t beat me. I remain the true champion, and with a full training camp, I’ll prove it without question.”

Mikaelian got the opportunity to step into the ring after the original contender, Ryan Rozicki, suffered an injury. The Armenian boxer, who has never lost the title in the ring, was previously designated as “champion in recess” due to repeated delays in defending the title caused by injuries and organizational issues.

For 41-year-old Badou Jack, it was his first fight in 27 months. The Swedish fighter had previously held the super middleweight title (up to 168 lbs).

The WBC Board of Governors has approved a direct rematch, pending mutual agreement between the parties. If no agreement is reached, a purse bid will be held on July 1, 2025.