WBC Elevates Cieslak, Sets Benavidez Defense For December 12

The WBC elevated interim cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) to full champion and approved his first defense against unified WBA and WBO champion David Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) for December 12 in Phoenix, according to Lance Pugmire.

Ring Magazine champion Jai Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) sits in the mandatory position for the winner. Noel Mikaelian lost the WBC title outside the ring after the sanctioning body declared the belt vacant. The WBC promoted Cieslak, approved Benavidez as his challenger, and placed Opetaia next in line following his ninth-round stoppage over Mikaelian last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.”

The winner of that bout must face next Jai Opetaia, who won his bout last Saturday, September 12, in Las Vegas, Nevada,” the WBC stated. Opetaia left Las Vegas without the green strap because the organization refused to sanction the Mikaelian bout as an official championship contest. Instead, the Australian settled for the mandatory slot behind Cieslak and Benavidez.

Benavidez secures a home date to hunt a third cruiserweight belt. He already collected the WBA and WBO hardware by outpointing Gilberto Ramirez, but overlooking Cieslak would prove reckless. The 37-year-old Polish puncher has won seven consecutive bouts since his 2021 defeat against Lawrence Okolie, bringing raw power capable of blowing up the division’s bigger unification plans. Opetaia holds legitimate gripes about the sanctioning politics.

He stopped the man holding the WBC title, yet walked away empty-handed. He now watches from ringside on December 12, waiting to see if the victor honors the mandatory order. The ruling establishes an unobstructed path at 200 pounds. Cieslak meets Benavidez in Phoenix, with the winner obligated to face Opetaia next. If David handles business, the sanctioning body clears away the red tape for the showdown the entire division demands.