A highly-anticipated showdown between David Benavidez and Jai Opetaia could now be around the corner.

The two cruiserweights have been linked to a battle against one another over the past few months, and it now could become a reality after Opetaia was victorious on Saturday.

The New Zealander claimed a ninth round stoppage win over Noel Mikaelian at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, after a dominant display which saw Opetaia win virtually every round up to that point.

Attention could now turn to a clash with three-division world champion Benavidez, after the pair were involved in a face-off in the ring and both agreeing to face each other next May.

Benavidez: “Let’s do it right here next year for Cinco De Mayo.”

Opetaia: “Done. It’s done”

Benavidez: “Respect, he’s a strong fighter but there can only be one monster. He likes war and I’m the exact same way so it will be one hell of a fight.”

Benavidez was a two-time super middleweight world champion and remains the WBC light heavyweight champion, but last time out he moved up to 200lbs and stopped Gilberto Ramirez inside six rounds to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.

Before a potential clash with Opetaia next May can take place, Benavidez is first expected to return to action before the end of the year, with a reported battle against Michal Cieslak set to come in December.

The vacant WBC cruiserweight belt could be on the line in that contest, after the governing body didn’t sanction the belt to be on the line between Opetaia and current full WBC champion Mikaelian.

Jai Opetaia looks to strengthen his claim as the leading cruiserweight in the world tonight when he faces WBC champion Noel Mikaelian in a major title clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The unbeaten Australian puts his Ring and Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight titles on the line against Mikaelian, with the contest serving as the chief support to Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn. Opetaia enters with a perfect 30-0 record and has made clear that his long-term ambition remains to become undisputed before eventually moving up to heavyweight.

Mikaelian represents another significant obstacle in that pursuit. The experienced champion had previously been ordered to face David Benavidez but instead moved forward with the Opetaia fight, setting up one of the most significant cruiserweight contests of the year. Though many assumed the WBC would strip the Armenian, President Mauricio Sulaiman says there will be no decision made until next week.

Victory would move the winner closer to undisputed status and a unification clash with Benavidez.

Boxing News will provide live round-by-round scoring for the fight below.

Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian live scorecard

This is a Boxing News live scorecard and not the official score from the judges.

Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian fight result

Obadiah TKO 9.A solid performance from Opetaia, who becomes the first man to stop Mikaelian. The Armenian kept it interesting at points – and even hurt Opetaia in the seventh – but was ultimately ground down by the Aussie’s power and stopped on his feet in the ninth round after four or five clean shots to the head. Benavidez was watching ringside and stepped into the ring post-fight. He presents a must-watch match-up next for three of the four belts in the division, assuming Opetaia is allowed to now claim the WBC title.