David Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) appears set to return to the ring in the coming months.
The three-division world champion rose from light heavyweight to cruiserweight in May and stopped Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez in the sixth round to add the WBA and WBO world titles at 200 pounds to previous championships he won at 175 and 168.
The WBC ordered its champion, Noel Mikaelian, to defend the cruiserweight belt in a unification with Benavidez. Mikaelian instead signed to face Jai Opetaia on September 12 in Las Vegas. Mikaelian and Opetaia will fight in the co-main event of the card headlined by Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn.
Reports suggest Benavidez will now fight WBC interim champion Michal Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) on December 12.
Cieslak lost a decision to Lawrence Okolie in 2022 but is unbeaten since and is coming off a fourth-round TKO victory over Jean Pascal, which earned him the interim WBC title.
A venue in the Phoenix or Glendale area is under consideration.
Benavidez’s previous wins include Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade and David Morrell.