Michal Cieslak has been elevated to full WBC cruiserweight champion, and his mandatory title defense against David Benavidez has been sanctioned by the organization.
- Meanwhile, two-time WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian of Armenia was stripped of the title, which he held ahead of his Saturday bout against Jai Opetaia.
- Australia’s Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs), who won the fight by ninth-round TKO, has become a mandatory contender and is now expected to face the winner of Cieslak vs Benavidez.
The WBC made the announcement regarding the status of its cruiserweight division on Monday.
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Poland’s Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) claimed the vacant interim WBC cruiserweight title by fourth-round TKO against Jean Pascal in June.
Reports about a potential bout with Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) of Phoenix, Arizona, who currently holds the division’s unified WBA and WBO belts, emerged in August.
- Following his victory over Mikaelian, former two-time IBF cruiserweight champion Opetaia, who also holds the Ring and Zuffa Boxing belts, called Benavidez into the ring, and the two fighters agreed to a showdown next May.
Further details on the proposed Cieslak vs Benavidez bout are expected to follow shortly.