LOS ANGELES — Noel Mikaelian can’t get a fair shake.

The former WBC cruiserweight champion fell short on the scorecards for a third time in a competitive fight when he lost a majority decision to Badou Jack in their title tilt earlier this month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Although Mikaelian (27-3, 12 KOs) outlanded him 153 to 122 while throwing 301 more punches, judges scored the contest 114-114, 115-113, 115-113 in favor of Jack. DAZN broadcaster Chris Mannix scored the fight from ringside 115-113 for Mikaelian.

After having endured wrongful losing decisions to Mairis Briedis in 2018 and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in 2017 — a significant portion of the boxing public sided with Mikaelian in both — Mikaelian and his team are taking more serious matters into their own hands in hopes of righting the most recent wrong.

Mikaelian told The Ring that promoter Don King and advisor Anthony Girges separately filed appeals with the WBC to address the faulty decision and for the sanctioning body to order an immediate rematch.

“I was robbed and everyone knows it,” Mikaelian told The Ring. “I am very disappointed about the decision. I didn't get a fair shake. I did everything I could do in my powers during the fight, but I don't have the power over the judges. After the fight, event promoter Frank Warren and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., among many others, told me I won the fight. It's very frustrating because I thought there would finally be light at the end of this dark tunnel.”

“The Dark Horse” Mikaelian took the fight on three weeks’ notice, stepping in for the injured Ryan Rozicki to battle Jack for the title he never lost in the ring. Mikaelian came into the clash as the WBC champion in recess after a whirlwind 2024 that featured several fight cancellations due to injuries and promotional problems.

“Maybe I am cursed. It is very unfortunate,” said Mikaelian. “They call it a close fight whenever the rightful winner doesn't get a decision. I should be the champion and the deserving winner who is moving forward with the big fights.”

Mikaelian, a 34-year-old Armenian based in Florida, said he rewatched the contest and scored it 116-112 in favor of himself, stressing that he closed the fight strong.

Mikaelian likely would have landed title unification fights against The Ring and IBF champion Jai Opetaia and WBA and WBO champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez if he still held the WBC cruiserweight crown.

Now he wants another crack at Jack.