Men's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Where does Opetaia land after another KO win?

Cruiserweight Jai Opetaia defeated then-WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian by ninth-round TKO on Saturday, September 13, 2026, though the title was not on the line as the WBC declined to sanction the bout. Opetaia, who signed with Zuffa Boxing in January, has twice been stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title for bypassing mandatory challengers, most recently in 2026 after choosing to fight for the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title over facing his mandatory challenger. Despite lacking a major world title, Opetaia continues to rise in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings following his dominant knockout performance.