WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian has given the green light to a fight with Tommy Fury.
Tommy’s brother, Tyson Fury, challenged Mikaelian to defend his world title against the crossover boxing star last week, following his majority decision win over strongman Eddie Hall.
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Fury defeated Hall last weekend, and now his brother, Tyson, wants him to fight for a world titleCredit: Getty
“Tommy is a real fighter,” Tyson told iFL TV.
“I’d like [WBC president] Mauricio Sulaiman to rank him in the top 15 in the light heavyweight or cruiserweight division.
“Tommy would have a good fight with Noel Mikaelian, the WBC champion.
“Tommy has the ability to beat him…I think a world title shot for Tommy next, maybe.”
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The younger Fury was briefly ranked inside the WBC cruiserweight top 40 in 2023 after scoring the best win of his 11-0 pro career over Jake Paul.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has since declared that Tommy will once again be considered for a ranking after his most recent performance.
Providing all of the pieces fall into place, Mikaelian is willing to make a voluntary defence of his world title against Tommy, but only if Tyson agrees to fight him afterwards.
“If your brother wants a title shot, I am up for it if Mauricio [Sulaiman] gives me my voluntary defence back, since I haven’t heard anything back from the team I was supposed to fight,” said Mikaelian in response to Tyson’s callout.
“But only if you vouch to fight me next. You love the cruiserweights, don’t you?”
Where does this leave a fight with David Benavidez?
The team that Mikaelian ‘hasn’t heard back from’ is thought to be David Benavidez’s handlers.
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Mikaelian is willing to put his WBC cruiserweight belt on the line against FuryCredit: Instagram @noelmikaelian
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Benavidez had been in advanced negotiations to face MikaelianCredit: Getty
Mikaelian had been offered a voluntary defence after snatching the green and gold strap from Badou Jack in a rematch last December.
However, after six months with no progress, the WBC ordered a three-belt shootout between Mikaelian and Benavidez.
Discussions appeared to be making rapid progress early on.
Yet it now appears that talks may have stalled, leaving the door ajar for Fury.
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