Opetaia-Mikaelian in Jeopardy After Don King Cease-and-Desist

Don King Productions has formally demanded that TKO Group Holdings and Zuffa Boxing cancel Jai Opetaia’s scheduled fight with Noel Mikaelian in Las Vegas this Saturday, placing the cruiserweight bout in jeopardy days before it is due to appear as the co-main event of Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn.

The cease-and-desist letter, sent by DKP attorney Alejandro Brito to TKO senior vice-president and associate general counsel Isabelle Mercer, claims Mikaelian remains bound by an exclusive worldwide promotional agreement with King’s company and cannot contract for his professional services without DKP’s express consent.

King challenges Zuffa deal

DKP alleges that Zuffa arranged Opetaia-Mikaelian without its permission and describes the move as “tortious interference” with its promotional contract. The letter says any agreement Mikaelian has signed, or later signs, without DKP’s written approval is considered void by King’s company, which says it reserves the right to pursue “any and all remedies available at law or in equity.”

The letter also contends that TKO and Zuffa were aware of DKP’s position before the fight was announced. Brito refers to communications between Mercer and DKP attorney Carl Lewis over a possible fight or multi-fight agreement involving Mikaelian, including a bout with Opetaia, and says Zuffa chief operating officer Harrison Whitman and Dana White held at least one virtual meeting with Don King and Lewis to discuss a proposed services deal for Mikaelian.

King’s side rejects the idea that an agreement negotiated through Mikaelian’s manager, Anthony Girges, or attorney James Greeley would be enough to authorise the bout. DKP says Mikaelian is only permitted to “discuss and explore” offers with third parties, and only in consultation with DKP, while any binding agreement requires DKP’s approval.

The letter demands that DKP wants TKO and Zuffa to cancel Opetaia-Mikaelian immediately, publicly announce the cancellation, stop negotiating or communicating with Mikaelian about his professional services, refrain from using him in any future bout without DKP’s written consent, and confirm in writing that they will comply. Copies of the letter were sent to Mikaelian, King, Turki Alalshikh, the WBC, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Girges and Greeley.

Mikaelian has maintained that he is still under contract with King but argues that his side had the right to pursue the Opetaia fight. Speaking to Fights Around The World before the cease-and-desist emerged, he said, “He is still my promoter, but he isn’t actually promoting, putting on any shows, or getting my name out there. In the new agreement I have with him, there’s an addendum that I can outsource third-party options with my manager also by myself if they are more financially advantageous. That’s what we did with this fight [with Jai Opetaia], although a lot of people are trying to block it. We followed the addendum and what’s in black and white. We didn’t do any sneaky things. Everything is documented, which is why this fight is happening.”

The dispute is the latest complication around a fight that was already entangled with the WBC’s cruiserweight title picture. Mikaelian, who lost the WBC title to Badou Jack by majority decision in May last year, before regaining it in their rematch seven months later, has been seeking to proceed with Opetaia after the WBC ordered him to face David Benavidez.

WBC position remains unresolved

Mikaelian has argued that he is entitled to a voluntary defence and said he had not received a legitimate offer for the Benavidez fight. He told Fights Around The World, “I actually don’t know,” when asked about the latest with the WBC, before adding: “The last time I spoke to the WBC, I spoke in good faith and asked for a voluntary defense. Because the Opetaia fight was first blocked on the promoter side [King] and there was a bona fide offer on the table which I wasn’t aware of, we are now trying to make this fight happen.

“I have asked the WBC to give me my voluntary defense back since there was no bona fide offer from the Benavidez team on the table. There was a contract out there with no date and no venue, and if the opponent changed, everything would be renegotiated as soon as December. I can’t wait that long. I have to make a living.” Mikaelian later said, “I hope the WBC aligns with our path.”

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has indicated that Mikaelian risks being stripped if he proceeds outside the ordered Benavidez defence, and the sanctioning body had sought clarification from King over Mikaelian’s intentions. The Opetaia fight is listed for The Ring cruiserweight championship, with Opetaia entering as The Ring champion and Mikaelian still involved in an unresolved dispute over his WBC obligations.

Mikaelian has also tied the current conflict to wider frustration with his promotional situation. “It’s been difficult since signing with Don [King] a couple of years ago,” he said. “The first time I became a champion [against Llunga Makabu], he was counting me out and didn’t want me to win. I won that fight, and then he didn’t know what to do with me promotional wise.

“I don’t know if he [King] is holding grudges, but as a fighter, I did what I could and always work in good faith with every fight and every challenge. On the promoting and managing side, it doesn’t come to me. I’m the fighter. As far as I can do, I can perform in the ring and train. That’s my job. The rest is on the promoter to promote. If you’re not promoting, you’re actually not doing your job, and that’s really not on me.”

Fights Around The World reported that Zuffa had been searching for a standby fighter to travel to Las Vegas in case Opetaia-Mikaelian could not go ahead as planned. Mikaelian, for his part, said of the proposed bout: “It’s going to be a great fight. The right winner will be announced. The real champion of the division will be announced.”

The fight has not been announced as cancelled, but DKP’s letter now puts pressure on TKO and Zuffa to decide whether to proceed, negotiate with King’s company, or alter the card. The immediate next step is whether Zuffa responds to the demand before fight week reaches the point of no return in Las Vegas.