Jai Opetaia is a fighter without a major world title, but he continues to climb ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings. Opetaia defeated then-WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian by ninth-round TKO on Saturday, but Mikaelian's title was not at stake. The WBC declined to sanction the bout after Mikaelian chose to face Opetaia rather than his mandatory challenger, David Benavidez.

Opetaia, who signed with Zuffa Boxing in January, was the IBF cruiserweight champion when he faced Brandon Glanton in March, but the IBF stripped him after he chose to fight for the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title instead. It was the second time Opetaia had been stripped of the IBF title. In 2023, he was also stripped after choosing to face Ellis Zorro instead of mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis.

Regardless of the titles, Opetaia continues to demolish his opponents. Against Mikaelian, he once again displayed his power, dropping Mikaelian in Round 9 before finishing him. Opetaia won the secondary WBA "regular" title and, after the fight, made clear his desire to face WBA champion David Benavidez, who got into the ring for a faceoff. With the victory, Opetaia moves up one spot to No. 9.

Our panel of Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas, Nick Parkinson, James Regan, Eric Woodyard, Bernardo Pilatti, Salvador Rodriguez, Jim Zirolli, Michael Mascaro, Aladdin Freeman, Victor Lopez and Damian Delgado Averhoff shares its votes. More ESPN rankings: Divisional rankings and women's pound-for-pound rankings. Note: Results are through Sept. 17.