David Benavidez New Fight Plan Emerges

David Benavidez, the WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, is now expected to face WBC interim champion Michal Cieslak for the vacant WBC title in November or December, after his planned unification fight with Noel Mikaelian fell through.

Benavidez had reportedly agreed to face Mikaelian on December 12, but Mikaelian has since been named as Jai Opetaia's (26-0) opponent on the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn undercard September 12, fighting for the Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title.

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Cieslak is now expected to either be elevated to full WBC champion or ordered to face Benavidez for the belt, with a report from Abraham Gonzalez pointing to the December 12 date at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Should Benavidez and Opetaia both win their next fights, a unification between the two would become the top matchup left in the division.