WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack is done being “Mr. Nice Guy” and has made his intentions clear ahead of his rematch on Saturday night in Los Angeles, CA. His message to Noel Mikaelian (27-3, 12 KOs) is simple: “Be ready because it’s going to hurt.”
The 42-year-old WBC champion Jack (29-3-3, 17 KOs), who now lives just outside Dubai, U.A.E., was in good spirits when FightsATW recently spoke to him. Even mentioning his age in a young man’s sport didn’t faze him, as he described himself as “A veteran who still feels young and has the same hunger,” Jack told FightsATW. “I’m the champ!”
This fight against Mikaelian is a rematch of their May fight in Riyadh, where Jack successfully defended his title with a majority decision victory. That night, Jack discovered something about Mikaelian that he only realized after sharing the ring for 12 rounds.
“I had never seen him fight before that,” said Jack. “He can take a punch because I hit him good. It wasn’t my best performance with 2 ½ years off. Now, I have a full camp, he has one as well, so yeah, I’m going to make a statement.”
Now that Jack has the rematch with Mikaelian on Saturday, December 13, at Ace* Studios in L.A., it will be the first time he has fought twice in a year since 2022. Jack pointed to politics in boxing as the reason he has been inactive but feels he is finally back on a path to not only being more active but also to getting the biggest fights the division has to offer.
“I wish we had fought sooner,” said Jack. “For me, it’s not a quick turnaround. May felt like a long time ago. I’m glad to be back in the ring. I’m going to shut this guy up and then move on to bigger and better fights.”
Ahead of the rematch with Mikaelian, Jack, at 42, felt no need to alter his training approach. He mentioned that “young, hungry sparring partners” pushed him during camp and that he “feels way better than last time.”
What is different about Jack’s training camp compared to past years is that his two kids are older now and understand more than they did when they were younger. Jack stays in a hotel in Dubai during training camp but visits his family on weekends so the time apart doesn’t feel as long. His son and daughter also stay connected with their dad through boxing, as they have both picked up the gloves and are often found training at a local gym. So although he hasn’t made many changes to his preparation, the stability at home regarding visitation and spending time with his family helps keep things in order during training camp.
While Jack is approaching his career one fight at a time, he roughly estimates about “maybe two years” remaining in the sport. For someone who has been a pro since 2009, Jack has earned the right to leave the game on his own terms, whether that’s in two years or less. This fight could significantly impact that timeline, whether it shortens or extends it.
So what should fans expect on Saturday night live on PPV.com? “They should expect a better, more action-packed fight with no ring rust. I can’t wait for fight night so I can put a beating on him.”
Jack is solely focused on this rematch, but when asked about a potential fight with unified champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez or IBF & Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia, Jack did not hesitate to say who was on his radar. “Whoever comes with the best money for the fight,” said Jack. “They are saying Opetaia is the best, so I guess him. A lot of people are hyping him up, even though he only fought like one guy that was okay. He’s a good, young fighter, so we’ll see.”
Will we see Jack follow through on his comments and definitely beat Mikaelian, or will the latter defeat Jack and put his name in the hat for a unification fight in 2026? All that remains is for these two cruiserweights to glove up and get in the ring on Saturday night.
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