Don King Productions Announces Challenger for Reigning WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Noel Mikaelian
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Mar 2026
Deerfield Beach, Fla. (March 26, 2026) – The world’s greatest boxing promoter and International Boxing Hall of Famer Don King announced today that he has offered his WBC Cruiserweight World Champion, Noel Mikaelian (28-3, 12 KOs) his next opponent. In a matchup scheduled to take place this June if Mikaelian accepts the challenge to defend his world title, the Yerevan, Armenia native has been pitted against WBC NABF Bridgerweight Champion Lyubomyr Pinchuk (17-4-2, 11 KOs).
“We’ve moved forward with one of the WBC’s ranked contenders and Lyubomyr Pinchuk has signed the bout sheet and is looking forward to a mid-June championship fight.
“I have contacted my champion Noel Mikaelian as we wait to confirm this amazing matchup for this coming June,” said King. “Mikaelian is a tried-and-true world champion and our success inside and outside of the ring is a testament to our relationship. Pinchuk is a dangerous opponent for anyone in the cruiserweight division, and I look forward to building Mikaelian’s next title defense.”
“Noel showed his greatness after being robbed of his championship in his first fight with Badou Jack. He dominated him in the rematch, showing what a true fighter he is in taking his title back.”
“We will be putting together a great boxing card for the people and Mikaelian-Pinchuk will be a spectacular main event.”
Hailing from Lviv, Ukraine and currently training out of Pittsburgh, Pa., Pinchuk prepares to enter his first world title outing on the strength of three consecutive knockout victories. After turning professional in 2017 and scoring four straight knockouts, the 29-year-old Pinchuk is currently on a career revitalization after suffering two defeats in 2022 and a draw in 2023. The challenger is now poised to square off against the highly decorated two-time WBC Cruiserweight Champion.
In a relationship spanning back to 2022, King has guided Mikaelian to boxing greatness. The current champion’s first fight under the Don King Productions banner saw a vacant WBC Cruiserweight Title showdown against South Africa’s Ilunga Makabu. After scoring a devasting third-round knockout over Makabu, Mikaelian squared off against former WBC light heavyweight world champion Badou Jack in a fight-of-the-year candidate. Now on the heels of winning his title back in a highly anticipated rematch against Jack, Mikaelian is positioned to accept his biggest challenge to date.
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