David Benavidez returns to his Arizona roots for a high-stakes unification bout against WBC champion Michal Cieslak on December 5. The fight headlines a PBC pay-per-view event at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, marking the Phoenix native’s first home-state appearance since 2022. Benavidez, who moved up to cruiserweight in May and stopped Gilberto Ramirez in his debut, aims to add a third major belt to his collection in a decisive 200-pound showdown.
Unified champ seeks third belt at home while Polish challenger vows to steal all three titles.
The challenger, Cieslak, enters the ring with significant momentum, riding a seven-fight winning streak that includes all stoppages. The Polish fighter captured the WBC title in June 2025 with a fourth-round knockout of Jean Pascal and remains undefeated in his recent run. Despite facing a formidable opponent in Benavidez, Cieslak has issued a bold challenge, stating his intention to bring all three major cruiserweight belts back to Poland following the December 5 contest.
Beyond the main event, the card features a compelling co-main bout between undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. and former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman. The 12-round middleweight clash pits Ortiz, who recently stopped Erickson Lubin in two rounds, against the experienced Thurman, adding another layer of intrigue to a stacked DAZN and Prime Video slate.
Source: Yahoo Sports
