David Benavidez to face Michal Cieslakin in cruiserweight unification fight

Undefeated Mexican boxer David Benavidez, the reigning WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, is set to make his return to the ring for the second time this year on Dec. 5. He will face off against WBC champion Michal Cieslak in a unification showdown at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

This bout represents a homecoming for Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs), who will be fighting in his home state of Arizona for the first time as a world champion. Benavidez last fought in Arizona when he captured the WBC super middleweight title against David Lemieux in May 2022.

Most recently, Benavidez delivered a sixth-round TKO over Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past May, earning both the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.

Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) claimed the WBC interim title after knocking out Jean Pascal in the fourth round in June 2025.

Earlier this year, Cieslak was elevated to full champion status after Noel Mikaelian was stripped of the WBC belt for opting to face Jai Opetaia in September, an ill-fated decision that resulted in Mikaelian suffering a ninth-round knockout defeat. Mikaelian’s failure to fulfill his mandatory defense against Benavidez set the stage for Cieslak’s ascension and this unification clash.

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Fans can watch all the action as the Benavidez vs. Cieslak three-belt cruiserweight unification fight will be broadcast live on Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view, available via DAZN and Prime Video.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: David Benavidez to face Michal Cieslakin in cruiserweight unification fight