Canadian WBC cruiserweight mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki will no longer be facing WBC 200 lbs champion Norair Mikaeljan after the WBC ascertained Mikaeljan could not defend his title due to ongoing legal issues with Don King Productions. To ensure the WBC cruiserweight division continues to operate, the organization has now approved of Rozicki and Argentinian contender Yamil Peralta facing each other for the WBC interim cruiserweight title.
According to the WBC’s official press release, Armenian champion Norair Mikaeljan (27-2, 12 KO’s) and Don King, head of Don King Productions, are in a legal conflict of sorts that makes it untenable for Mikaeljan to defend his WBC cruiserweight (200 lbs) title in a timely manner.
The legal dispute might be related to Mikaeljan having been unable to defend his title against mandatory challenger Ryan Rozicki (20-1, 19 KO’s) as negotiations and purse bids between the two teams were constantly delayed. Reportedly, this was due to Don King suffering from health issues which resulted in a planned show for September 28―that was set to headline the WBC cruiserweight title bout―being cancelled.
A purse bid was subsequently ordered by the WBC for October 4 after the cancelled show, but consistent delays and apparent legal issues between Mikaeljan and King have urged the sanctioning body to approve of a title bout between #1-ranked WBC 200 lbs contender Ryan Rozicki and #2-ranked contender Yamil Peralta (17-1, 9 KOs’s). Both fighters will be vying for the vacant WBC interim cruiserweight title.
WBC’s approval stems from a petition from Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, who were already conductinig negotiations with Peralta behind-the-scenes. Their request for an interim title fight to take place was quickly approved by the WBC and the Rozicki-Peralta bout will now take place on December 7 at the Centre 200 venue in Sydney, Nova Scotia, in Rozicki’s home country of Canada.
The winner will then presumedly face Noel Mikaeljan once his legal dispute with Don King has been sorted.
