Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian? WBC backs unification bout between cruiserweight champion and star IBF titlist

Jai Opetaia could meet Noel Mikaelian in a cruiserweight world title unification with the WBC's backing.

Opetaia is the unbeaten IBF world champion and has impressed with two victories over Mairis Briedis as well as putting together a sequence of stunning knockout wins.

Mikaelian is the WBC belt-holder and faced off with Opetaia at the first Zuffa Boxing event.

Zuffa is a new boxing promotion company that has recently signed Opetaia. The Australian will have his first fight under their banner on March 8.

With a change of American legislation, Zuffa could set up an alternative to the traditional world-title sanctioning bodies and become a unified boxing organisation that administers its own belts and rankings.

But the WBC would not obstruct an eventual Opetaia versus Mikaelian unification bout.