David Benavidez is set for a three-belt cruiserweight title unification against WBC champion Michal Cieslak next month, but should he be successful, his undisputed title charge could be delayed, with the victor now being made to next face an opponent who does not currently hold a world title.
Benavidez is in possession of the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles, following his outstanding stoppage win over Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez earlier this year.
On December 5, Benavidez seeks to add Cieslak’s WBC title to his collection, to move within one win of the undisputed throne.
The remaining IBF cruiserweight title is currently vacant, with Jai Opetaia having filed a lawsuit against the sanctioning body in the hope of being reinstated as their champion, but reports suggest that Viddal Riley and David Nyika could battle it out for the vacant title.
However, at the WBC convention this week, it was announced that the winner of Benavidez-Cieslak will be mandated to take on Opetaia next, or risk being stripped of their WBC 200lb strap, as per Uncrowned Combat.
“On Tuesday, a representative for WBA (Regular) champion Jai Opetaia said Opetaia would vacate his secondary title if he could be ranked No. 2 in the WBC’s cruiserweight rankings.
“The request was granted, and on Wednesday it was also confirmed that the Australian would become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the three-belt unification clash between David Benavidez and Michal Cieslak on Dec. 5.”
Should Benavidez trump Cieslak and the IBF not reinstate Opetaia as a world champion, it is anticipated that Benavidez-Opetaia will go ahead in May for three of the four world honours in the cruiserweight division.
Before that, Opetaia will first fight up at heavyweight in a daring bout with Deontay Wilder on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua undercard on Friday, December 11.
