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Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13Jai Opetaia Takes Round 5 for 49-46 Lead Over Noel Mikaelian
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 13Summary
- 49-46 on one running card, Opetaia widened his edge by taking Round 5 10-9 over Mikaelian.
- Opetaia controlled the round behind his jab, mixed in a left hook and body work, and kept getting the better of the clinches.
- Mikaelian landed only sporadically—mostly single shots, including a hard jab and a sneaky right hand—and was warned for rabbit punching in close.
- The round ended with both men trading short shots in the clinch, but Opetaia's steadier offense and cleaner control set the pace.
Insights
Can Mikaelian overcome a brutal point deficit while battling the legal chaos surrounding his promoter Don King? How will Opetaia's explosive lawsuit against the IBF reshape the future of traditional boxing sanctioning bodies? Will Dana White's Zuffa Boxing successfully dismantle the old guard of the sport despite mounting legal threats?