The unbeaten IBF champion, 30, and WBC titleholder Mikaelian, 35, have been linked with a showdown later this year, with sanctioning backing now clearing a major obstacle.
Speaking to Sky Sports, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said: “Yes absolutely. [Opetaia is] a good fighter, a good champion, Noel Mikaelian a very dear friend and our champion. So if they plan on doing that unification we’re supportive.”
Opetaia has emerged as one of the standout fighters in the division over the past two years, most notably with back-to-back wins over Mairis Briedis to claim and then retain the IBF belt, before adding a run of dominant knockout victories that have boosted his profile globally.
The Australian recently signed with Zuffa Boxing and is due to make his promotional debut on March 8, 2026.
Meanwhile, Mikaelian holds the WBC cruiserweight title and recently went face-to-face with Opetaia at Zuffa’s inaugural event, fuelling speculation that the bout could be targeted once Opetaia’s first fight under the new banner is complete.
Sulaiman made clear that the WBC would not stand in the way, even with Zuffa exploring an alternative promotional model to traditional sanctioning bodies.
He said: “If they want to promote a WBC championship, of course as a boxing promoter if they do it within the rules and procedures, more than welcome.
“If Zuffa decides to participate in the normal landscape as it is, more than happy, more than welcome. If they continue to try to do their own league with their own belt I wish them luck, but boxing continues.”
The WBC president stressed that unification bouts remain a priority for the organisation, pointing to its recent approach in the heavyweight division as evidence.
He said: “Our policy has been to try to make the best fights possible for the industry, for the promoters, for the fighters and of course for the fans.”
Sulaiman cited the WBC’s handling of Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed reign as an example of allowing champions flexibility while protecting mandatory challengers.
He said: “What we did in the heavyweight division was approve a long process that took to get to the undisputed.”
