David Benavidez next fight: Michal Cieslak unification set for 5 December
The three-belt cruiserweight bout has been brought forward a week to avoid a clash with Joshua vs Fury, and Irishman Tommy O’Toole is set to face Elijah Garcia on the card, Chris Mannix reported.
Post by @ringmagazine on X
David Benavidez will fight Michal Cieslak for three cruiserweight belts on 5 December on DAZN pay-per-view. The date is a week earlier than expected, chosen to keep the card clear of Joshua vs Fury.
The undercard carries Irish interest. Chris Mannix reported that Tommy O’Toole will face Elijah Garcia at super middleweight.
Post by @SIChrisMannix on X
No venue was given when the fight was announced, but BoxRec and Piotr Jagiello of TVP Sport both place it in Phoenix.
The bout became a unification because Noel Mikaelian lost the WBC cruiserweight title after declining to fight Benavidez, his mandatory challenger, while pursuing a venture with Zuffa. Benavidez is unbeaten at 32-0 with 26 knockouts.
Cieslak, from Poland, is 28-2 with 22 knockouts. He won the interim belt by knocking out Jean Pascal, his seventh straight win inside the distance since he lost a 2022 title fight to Lawrence Okolie. His two defeats came in the two biggest fights of his career.
The rest of the undercard has not been officially announced. Julius Julianis reported that Vergil Ortiz Jr will meet Keith Thurman.
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