Former WBC cruiserweight champion Illunga Makabu 29-3 (25) was a no-show as the final press conference for his fight against Noel Mikaelian 26-2 (11) at the Casino Miami Jai Alai in Miami, Florida on Saturday night.
The fight for the vacant WBC title vacated by Makabu conqueror Badou Jack will headline promoter Don King’s ‘Only in American 92 Celebration’.
Makabu will be vying to become a two-time WBC cruiserweight champion after losing his belt to veteran Jack 28-3-3 (17) by 12th round knockout in his last bout in Saudi Arabia in February.
The delay in arriving for the 35-year-old southpaw from the Democratic Republic of the Congo was blamed on visa issues, with King scoffing at suggestions he may be pulled from the card.
“More rumours than Al Capone,” he said.
Germany’s Mikaelian, 33, added his only concern is Makabu turning up on fight night.
“I don’t care that he is not here (today),” Mikaelian said. “If he is not in the ring on Saturday, then I will be very disappointed.”
Mikaelian, who has only ever lost to world champions Mairis Briedis and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, both on points, said Makabu was a longtime target of his.
“I wanted to fight Makabu for a longtime, he’s a great southpaw but my fight IQ allows me to adapt to anyone in the ring,” Mikaelian said.
The card will also feature a heavyweight bout between 33-year-old Louisianan Jonathan ‘The King’ Guidry 19-1-2 (11) and 43-year-old Puerto Rican southpaw Jesus ‘Tito’ Escalera 19-0 (19).
“I am really honored to be on another Don King show,” Guidry said. “I do not have much to say but I am very prepared for this fight and I believe we will have the best fight of the night. Sparks will fly.”
“Thank you very much to Don King and team Guidry for giving me this shot,” Escalera said. “A lot of fighters turned me down, but he is a true champion and stepped up and it is a complete honour.
“My uncle fought in in the same venue 40 years ago for Don King. To fight in same venue as my uncle is an honour.
“I plan to make my home country of Puerto Rico proud. This will be the best fight of the night and Saturday will answer a lot of questions people have about us.
“Guidry’s IQ in boxing is high. I think he said his game plan is to take me to the later rounds and drown me.
“That’s a great game plan. There’s a reason I haven’t been outside of the fourth round. But if he comes forward, we will see what happens.
“This is the heavyweight division; it only takes one punch. He’s a true fighting champion who stays active so I will be prepared.”
King said: “Jonathan Guidry being the champion that he is will be taking on Puerto Rico’s Jesus Escalera. Escalera is the man of the people and this will be a great title match between two of the best heavyweights in the world.”
In another heavyweight bout Trevor Bryan 22-1 (15) will take on Cassius Chaney 22-1 (15).
“Everyone is claiming to have the best fight but myself and Cassius Chaney have a lot to prove so I believe we will take that title,” Bryan said.
“I am a former champion, so I have a lot to still prove. Nothing against Chaney but I need to go in there and take care of business.”
“I am looking forward to this. Thank you for Trevor’s team for accepting this fight because I’ve been training constantly,” Chaney said.
“My team and I have been patient and working hard and I am now in a good space. I’m looking forward to Saturday to put on a great show.”
