Noel Mikaelian won the vacant WBC cruiserweight title by defeating former beltholder Ilunga Makabu in the third round of their meeting in Miami.

Makabu won the vacant WBC crown in 2020 and defended it twice before being stopped by Badou Jack in the final round in February in Saudi Arabia. The Armenian Mikaelian lost only in good company, losing decisions to Krzysztof Włodarczyk and Mairis Briedis, and for the first time in history he advanced to the level of world champion.

Mikaelian (27-2, 12 KO) took advantage of the frail Makabu (29-4, 25 KO) here, knocking out the Congolese with a right hand in the second round, but was unable to finish the job as Makabu weathered the storm. The end didn’t last long, however, as Mikaelian unloaded a series of shots that knocked Makabu down again in the third period, and when the former champion survived the count, another heavy-handed attack forced the referee to stop the fight. Makabu was falling to the canvas.

Undercard summary:

Trevor Bryan (22-2, 15 KO) lost his ambition to return to heavyweight competition when he was stopped by Cassius Chaney (23-1, 16 KO) in the seventh round. Bryan was knocked to the ground in the second round, and a powerful right hand landed squarely on Bryan’s tired chin, flattening the former WBA champion, and the fight was over.

Cassius Chaney’s HUGE knockout against former “World Champion” Trevor Bryan last night 😳#CassiusChaney | #Knockout pic.twitter.com/bAkSjCenf0

— IFL TV (@IFLTV) November 5, 2023

Jonathan Giudry (20-1-2, 12 KO) recorded a one-punch knockout in a ten-round heavyweight fight against Jesus Escalera (19-1, 19 KO), ending the matter in the second round.

Prospective middleweight Alexander Castro (13-1, 11 KO) won in the third round by knockout over Hector Esnar Bobadilla (9-17-1, 4 KO), and super lightweight Isaiah Efrain Riquelmy (6-1, 4 KO ) won every round of this category. six against Rondale Hubbert (5-26-3, 9 KO).

Corey Caad (5-4, 2KO) defeated Isiah Hart (6-5-1, 4KO) by decision of the judges in the super middleweight division.

Shabaz Masoud won the vacant WBA Intercontinental super bantamweight title at NXTGEN in Newcastle, but had to work difficult before taking a ten-round split decision against Jose Sanmartin.

Masoud (12-0, KO4) approached this fight with great respect, defeating Jack Bateson by last-round stoppage last November. Sanmartin (34-8-1, KO21) worked with fighters such as Emmanuel Navarrete and Mauricio Lara, and in March he lost after ten rounds to Kevin Gonzalez.

The first three rounds were uneventful and Masoud had to work difficult to keep Sanmartin at bay, but the Colombian caught him with several shots in the third. Masoud responded with his best round in the fourth round and continued it in rounds five and six, doing well with his jab. Another tough round took place in the seventh round, but Sanmartin settled for victory in the end, showing unwavering commitment, which left him in a debate when the fight was decided in his favor.

The guest accepted a verdict of 96-94, but Masoud got the same result and a too wide score of 98-92 to take the belt and win.

Mark Dickinson (6-0, KO2) impressed as the West Rainton resident stopped Grant Dennis (18-6, KO3) in the fifth round of their scheduled 10-round middleweight fight. Dennis was dropped heavily after a series of punches, and the referee did not allow him to continue after the count ended.

Callum French (4-1, KO1) suffered a disappointing defeat when he was stopped in the eighth and final round against the experienced Jeff Ofori (13-6-2, KO4). French was cut down on a fourth-quarter header and was second-best overall against Ofori, who caused French to throw in the towel from a corner kick with more than two minutes remaining in the final frame.

Ishmael Davis (12-0, KO6) defeated Ewan Mackenzie (8-1, KO3) in an English super welterweight title eliminator, ultimately forcing Mackenzie to throw in the towel in the eighth round via a corner kick.

Cameron Vuong (2-0, KO1) is highly praised by Matchroom and has amassed six useful rounds, winning them all in his lightweight fight against John Henry Mosquera (5-5, KO1).

In the super lightweight category, Ben Rees (2-0, KO2) defeated Konrad Czajkowski (2-2-1, KO1) in the fifth round. A two-fisted attack forced the referee to intervene. Ben Rees (2-0-1, KO2) had to get off the court in the second round in the lightweight heavyweight division against Sadaam Moamed Da Silva Caetano (7-4, KO5) before winning by stoppage in round five.

Jimmy Sains (2-0, KO2) scored his second straight victory early in the fight, ending his middleweight clash with Jesus Lobeto (1-3-1, KO0) in the second round.

Boxxer promoted the show at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and Adam Azim won the European super lightweight title by defeating Franck Petitjean in the tenth round.

Azim started raving after a series of spectacular early victories, but in his last two outings he was a more disciplined fighter, having to go the full ten rounds against both Santos Reyes and Santos Reyes. Aram Fanian before recording the increment of the wide points. Petitjean became European champion at his second attempt in June, winning the majority of the votes in Paris against Samuel Molina.

Azim, 21, was in complete control throughout the match and confirmed his dominance in round five, defeating Petitjean with a body shot in round five, although the guy bravely beat the counter. Though Azim he was deducted a point for a low blow in round nine, an academic approach, as he took another knockdown a round later with another incredible body shot, prompting the corner champion to throw in the towel.

“I feel amazing,” said the recent champion.

“(Petitjean) was really arduous. I knew I couldn’t stop him in the first rounds, it was a development fight for me. I had to cut down the tree and I did it.”

In the nominal fight of the evening, Tyler Denny (18-2-3, KO1) scored his first-ever stoppage victory, defeating Matteo Signani (32-7-3, KO12) in the eighth round of the fight for the European middleweight championship title. It was quite a bizarre ending to the fight as Signani, cut above his left eye, took forever to get out of his corner in the eighth round and his corner had seen enough of it leading to the referee stopping the fight.

Richard Riakporhe (17-0, KO13) took a gigantic step towards winning the WBO cruiserweight title against Chris Billam-Smith, defeating Dylan Bregeon (13-5-1, KO3) and winning by second-round stoppage. A sweeping right hand dropped Bregeon in the second round, and a violent attack after the restart forced the Frenchman to step from the corner onto the ring apron before the fight was stopped.

Rhys Edwards (15-0, KO4) took a gigantic step up in his class and scored a ten-round featherweight victory over Brad Foster (15-3-2, KO5). The Welshman accepted the judge’s verdict of 97-94.

Dylan Cheema (9-2, KO2) sees his career turning upside down since winning the 2022 Boxxer tournament, while the Coventry native was upset by Robin Zamora (-24, KO10), who was deemed a worthy winner of the 59-56 lightweight competition.

The start of the event ended in a draw as Tion Gibbs (10-1-1, KO0) and Efstathios Antonas (5-2-2, KO2) couldn’t separate themselves after six rounds in the super lightweight bout.

Super featherweight newcomer Gully Powar (7-0, KO1) extended his undefeated streak by winning all four rounds over Engel Gomez (8-20-2, KO4).