WBC cruiserweight champion left without opponent for May 3 event
Badou Jack, photo – Getty Images
WBC cruiserweight title challenger Ryan Rozicki (20-1-1, 19 KOs) suffered an injury in training and will not be able to fight in the title fight against champion Badou Jack (28-3-3, 17 KOs).
“It is what it is. The doctors called it an accident – my bicep tore and now I'm out for a few months,” Ryan said.
41-year-old Jack is left without an official challenger before his mandatory defense and is looking for opponents. One of the options for the Swede is former WBC champion Noel Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KOs).
Badu last fought in February 2023, defeating Ilunga Makabu by TKO. The Swedish boxer then relinquished the title, hoping to move up to bridgeweight. However, in December 2024, he was reinstated as the WBC cruiserweight champion due to the inactivity of the previous titleholder Mikaelian. In January, the WBC officially ordered Jack to defend the belt against Rozicki.
Jack's fight is scheduled for May 3. The big night of boxing will take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The main event will be a fight between WBC, WBA and WBO super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and IBF title holder, Cuban William Schull.