Don King Productions Rejects Jake Paul's Demand for Mikaelian Step-Aside, Citing WBC Ranking Rules
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 15 Jul 2025
Don King Productions, the legendary promotional outfit headed by Hall of Fame promoter Don King, has emphatically rejected Jake Paul’s recent request for former WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian to step aside from his highly anticipated world title rematch against current champion Badou Jack. The denial throws a significant wrench into Jake Paul's apparent plans to quickly secure a fight for the WBC Cruiserweight strap.
King's statement, delivered from his Florida headquarters, made it clear that a step-aside agreement for Mikaelian is not on the table. More fundamentally, the veteran promoter asserted that the World Boxing Council (WBC) would not even be in a position to sanction a matchup between Jake Paul and Badou Jack at this time, citing a crucial procedural hurdle: Paul is not currently ranked by the WBC in the cruiserweight division.
"The WBC has clear rules and rankings that must be respected," a spokesperson for Don King Productions stated. "Noel Mikaelian has earned his mandatory rematch, and that is what he is focused on. Furthermore, for Mr. Paul to even be considered for a WBC title fight, he first needs to establish himself within the rankings. This isn't a popularity contest; it's about adhering to the sport's legitimate procedures."
This firm stance from Don King Productions comes hot on the heels of Jake Paul's recent unanimous decision victory over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. in Anaheim, a win that Paul's camp touted as a significant step towards gaining legitimacy in the boxing world. Following that fight, Paul publicly called out both Badou Jack and Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, signaling his ambition to challenge established champions in the cruiserweight division.
However, King's response highlights the bureaucratic realities of world championship boxing. The WBC, like other major sanctioning bodies, operates on a ranking system designed to provide a clear path for contenders to earn title shots. For Paul to bypass Mikaelian and directly challenge Jack, it would likely require an extraordinary exception from the WBC, which King suggests is highly improbable given Paul's unranked status in the division.
Noel Mikaelian (28-2, 12 KOs), who previously held the WBC Cruiserweight title before losing it to Jack, has a contractual right to a rematch, a right that Don King is clearly intent on protecting. This rejection by Don King Productions underscores the challenges Jake Paul faces as he attempts to transition from a crossover phenomenon to a fully recognized contender in the traditional boxing landscape, where rankings and mandatory challenges often dictate the championship picture. The path to a world title appears to be more complicated than a simple call-out for "The Problem Child."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions
Sun, 21 Dec 2025Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 21 Dec 2025Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 20 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Hails RP Blu Boys’ Golden Triumph at the SEA Games
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 20 Dec 2025ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 19 Dec 2025