Benavidez Eyes December Return Against Cieslak

David Benavidez will return to the ring on December 12th against interim WBC cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak, according to multiple reports.

Mike Coppinger first reported the targeted date, with Abraham Gonzalez adding that the bout will land near Phoenix, Arizona, where Benavidez was born. The three-belt unification against Noel Mikaelian is off the table after the WBC champion signed with Zuffa Boxing instead.

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Cieslak Brings Seven-Fight Win Streak

Cieslak, 28-2 with 22 knockouts, won the interim strap two summers ago by stopping Jean Pascal and has not gone the distance in a victory since 2018. His only pro defeats came in title shots against Ilunga Makabu and Lawrence Okolie, the latter in 2022.

Benavidez claimed the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles in May by stopping Gilberto Ramirez in his divisional debut. He then pushed for a rare mandatory unification against Mikaelian using his status as reigning WBC heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion, but those plans collapsed when the Armenian opted for Zuffa over a deal reportedly worked out by Sampson Lewkowicz and Don King.

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The December date gives Benavidez a routine title defense before pursuing bigger fights at cruiserweight or a potential move back down to light heavyweight.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — David Benavidez return eyed for December 12th, could meet Michal Cieslak