Noel Mikaelian


Norair Mikaelian, better known as Noel Gevor Mikaelian, is an Armenian-born German professional boxer. He is a two-time World Boxing Council cruiserweight champion having held the title since December 2025, and previously from 2023 to 2024.

Professional career

Mikaelian made his professional debut against Adam Gadajew on 27 May 2011. He won the fight on points after four rounds. Mikaelian amassed an 18–0 record during the next four years, before being booked to fight Daniel Alejandro Sanabria for the vacant WBO International cruiserweight title on 5 September 2015, the first regional championship of his career. He captured the vacant belt by unanimous decision, with scores of 99–90, 98–91 and 100–89. Mikaelian made his first title defense against Valery Brudov on 9 January 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 99–91 and one scorecard of 98–92. Mikaelian made his second title defense against Cristian Javier Medina on 7 May 2016. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 98–92 in his favor. Mikaelian made his third title defense against Stephen Simmons on 14 October 2016. He won the fight by split decision, with scores of 116–112, 116–112 and 113–116.
On 28 April 2017, it was announced that Mikaelian would face Krzysztof Włodarczyk in an IBF cruiserweight title eliminator. The bout headlined a card which took place at the Hala Arena in Poznań, Poland on 20 May 2017. He lost the fight by split decision. One judge scored the bout 115–113 in his favor, while the remaining two judges scored it 116–112 and 115–114 for Włodarczyk.
Mikaelian faced the #1 seed of the 2018–19 [World Boxing Super Series – cruiserweight division#Quarter-finals|2018 World Boxing Cruiserweight Super Series] Mairis Briedis on 10 November 2018, in the main event of an ESPN broadcast card, which took place at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Although Briedis was a 25-1 favourite, Mikaelian largely controlled the bout with jabs and hard rights landed on Briedis. However, the judges controversially awarded the fight to Briedis by unanimous decision, with scores of 114–112, 115–111 and 116–110.
Mikaelian faced Jesse Bryan for the vacant WBC International cruiserweight title on 12 December 2020, following an eighteen-month absence from the sport. He won the fight by a fourth-round technical knockout. Mikaelian next faced the former WBA interim cruiserweight champion Youri Kalenga on 12 February, this time coming back from a fourteen-month absence from the sport. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 119–109, 118–108 and 117–111.
On December 9, it was revealed that Mikaelian would fight Ilunga Makabu for the WBC cruiserweight title. The bout was expected to take place at the Casino Miami Jai-Alai in Miami, Florida, on 21 January 2023, but was abruptly cancelled when Makabu was arranged to defend the belt against Badou Jack instead on 26 February, despite Mikaelian being the mandatory challenger. After Jack vacated the belt to move up to bridgerweight, Mikaelian was scheduled to fight Makabu for the vacant title on 4 November 2023, at the Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida. Mikaelian won the fight by a third-round technical knockout and became the new WBC cruiserweight champion of the world.
Mikaelian challenged Badou Jack, who was reinstated to WBC cruiserweight champion in December 2024, for his title on May 3, 2025 at Anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, replacing Ryan Rozicki, who pulled out with injury. He lost by majority decision.
A rematch took place at Ace Mission Studios in Los Angeles, California, USA, on December 13, 2025. Mikaelian won via unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Win28–3Badou JackUD1213 Dec 2025Ace Mission Studios, Los Angeles, California, USWon WBC cruiserweight title
30Loss27–3Badou Jack123 May 2025Anb Arena, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaFor WBC cruiserweight title
29Win27–2Ilunga MakabuTKO3, 1:004 Nov 2023Casino Miami, Miami, Florida, USWon vacant WBC cruiserweight title
28Win26–2Youri KalengaUD1212 Feb 2022Studio 69, Riga, LatviaWon vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title
27Win25–2Jesse BryanTKO4, 1:5012 Dec 2020Airport Hilton, Miami, Florida, USWon vacant WBC International cruiserweight title
26Win24–2Isossa MondoUD815 Jun 2019Studio 69, Riga, Latvia
25Loss23–2Mairis BriedisUD1210 Nov 2018Credit Union 1 Arena, Chicago, Illinois, USWorld Boxing Super Series: Cruiserweight quarter-final
24Win23–1Isiah ThomasUD109 Sep 2017Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
23Loss22–1Krzysztof WłodarczykSD1220 May 2017Hala Arena, Poznań, Poland
22Win22–0Stephen Simmons1214 Oct 2016Inselparkhalle, Hamburg, GermanyRetained WBO International cruiserweight title
21Win21–0Cristian Javier MedinaUD107 May 2016Barclays Arena, Hamburg, GermanyRetained WBO International cruiserweight title
20Win20–0Valery BrudovUD10Vincent Feigenbutz vs. [Giovanni De Carolis II|9 Jan 2016]Baden-Arena, Offenburg, GermanyRetained WBO International cruiserweight title
19Win19–0Daniel Alejandro SanabriaUD105 Sep 2015EnergieVerbund Arena, Dresden, GermanyWon vacant WBO International cruiserweight title
18Win18–0Lukasz RusiewiczUD818 Jul 2015OWL Arena, Halle, Germany
17Win17–0Mohamed AzzaouiKO5, 2:0725 Apr 2015Columbiahalle, Kreuzberg, Germany
16Win16–0Alejandro Emilio ValoriUD821 Feb 2015O2 World Arena, Kreuzberg, Germany
15Win15–0Tamas PolsterTKO5, 2:5113 Dec 2014MusikTeatret, Copenhagen, Denmark
14Win14–0Tamas LodiTKO7, 1:1827 Sep 2014Sparkassen-Arena, Kiel, Germany
13Win13–0Ismail AbdoulUD816 Aug 2014Messe Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
12Win12–0Bela JuhaszKO2, 2:297 Jun 2014Sport- und Kongresshalle, Schwerin, Germany
11Win11–0Gogita GorgiladzeUD103 May 2014Velodrom, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant WBO Youth cruiserweight title
10Win10–0Loris Emiliani7, 1:4525 Jan 2014Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany
9Win9–0Sandro SiproshviliUD823 Nov 2013Brose Arena, Bamberg, Germany
8Win8–0Juan Manuel Garay68 Jun 2013Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
7Win7–0Viktor SzalaiTKO4, 2:3016 Mar 2013Sportforum, Bernau, Germany
6Win6–0Slavomir SelickyTKO1, 2:0022 Feb 2013Strada Henri Coanda, Galați, Romania
5Win5–0Michal BilakPTS67 Jul 2012Boxsporthalle Braamkamp, Hamburg, Germany
4Win4–0Marko Angermann2, 3:0011 May 2012EWS Arena, Göppingen, Germany
3Win3–0Rushid SevimTKO2 3 Sep 2011Kugelbake-Halle, Cuxhaven, Germany
2Win2–0Vaclav Fiala1, 1:3815 Jul 2011EWS Arena, Göppingen, Germany
1Win1–0Adam Gadajew427 May 2011Alte Brauerei, Stralsund, Germany