David Benavidez will do battle with Michael Cieslak in a three-belt unification bout, leaving Zuffa Boxing champion Jai Opetaia to wait for his desired cruiserweight conflict with the undefeated American.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) comes off his knockout win over Gilberto Ramirez in May, which saw the 29-year-old get the end in spherical six after dominating to that level.
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He will now put his WBO and WBA world cruiserweight titles on the line against WBC champion Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) on 5 December, who stopped Jean Pascal last June to win the vacant belt.
Cieslak’s last loss came 4 years in the past to Briton Lawrence Okolie, who edged him on the scorecards in a bout at the O2 Arena.
While combating Cieslak gives Benavidez the probability to go one step nearer to undisputed champion standing, it means followers will have to maintain out for a struggle with Australian celebrity Opetaia.
The pair stoked the fire last month when Benavidez confronted off with Opetaia following his win over Norair Mikaeljan at a Zuffa occasion in Las Vegas, accepting his callout in the ring.
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“This is a great fighter, we’re going to give the fans a great fight,” Benavidez said. “I like this man, it looks like he likes war, I’m the exact same way so we’re going to give the fans a hell of a fight.”
Opetaia had beforehand recommended Benavidez’s calls for were holding up the struggle getting booked, saying he needed to struggle on Mexican vacation Cinco de Mayo, with the undefeated Australia insisting he was not giving “any pushback”.
“Just call me and I’ll be there. Just give me the date and I’ll be there,” he said before the Mikaeljan struggle.
Jai Opetaia called out David Benavidez last month (Getty)
Their in-ring exchange appeared to show a struggle was teetering on affirmation but Benavidez will instead flip his consideration to Cieslak this winter.
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Benavidez still plans to struggle Opetaia after the Cieslak conflict, which would be one of a trio of blockbuster bouts he hopes to land as half of a new deal.
“I’m going to sign a three-fight contract,” said Benavidez. “After this fight, we’re talking about [Jai] Opetaia, we’re talking about [Artur] Beterbiev, and we are maybe talking about [Oleksandr] Usyk.
“So those fights are going to be at cruiserweight, and I’m a little bit confused about the one with Usyk. That might either be at cruiserweight or heavyweight.
“Those are three great fights that need to happen, and they are going to happen. I’m not just here saying I’m going to fight these guys and then I never fight them. I’m going to fight these guys because this is who I want to fight.
“I need Opetaia, I need Beterbiev and I need Usyk.”
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