The WBC clarified the status of the cruiserweight division on Monday. As widely expected, the WBC world title has been declared vacant.
Noel Mikaelian, the most recent beltholder, was previously ordered to defend his championship against unified WBA and WBO champion David Benavidez in May, but decided to face Jai Opetaia this past Saturday on the Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn undercard instead.
Mikaelian’s WBC title was ultimately not placed on the line against Opetaia in Las Vegas, where Opetaia stopped Mikaelian in Round 9.
Michael Cieslak, the WBC’s interim cruiserweight champion, has subsequently been elevated to full titleholder and has been ordered to defend his belt against David Benavidez next. Benavidez vs. Cieslak is expected to take place on Dec. 12 in Arizona.
The WBC also ruled that the winner of the Dec. 12 bout between Benavidez and Cieslak must face Opetaia afterward.
Benavidez and Opetaia faced off in the ring after the latter’s win last Saturday. It is widely considered the best fight not only at cruiserweight, but one of the best in the whole sport. The pair would collide for three belts if all the dominoes fall into place.
The IBF title remains vacant, with the sanctioning body set to order Viddal Riley and David Nyika to contest the championship, although that ruling has not been made yet.
Opetaia has an ongoing lawsuit against the IBF, in which he is asking to be reinstated as champion after being stripped of the belt this past March.
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