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.”
