Benavidez vs Cieslak
December 5 is shaping up to be a massive night for boxing in the desert. Undefeated WBA and WBO Cruiserweight Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez is heading back to his home state to take on WBC titleholder Michal Cieslak. With three belts on the line, the unification bout will headline a PBC Pay-Per-View card on DAZN via Prime Video, live from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Fighters and promoters met at Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles on Wednesday to kick off the press tour—and nobody was holding back.
Benavidez Promises Fireworks in Cruiserweight Unification
For Benavidez, fighting near his Phoenix roots always brings out an extra gear. He is already 13 weeks deep into training camp and says the move up to cruiserweight has left him feeling faster and heavier-handed than ever.
“Finally, I am in a position to become the king of this division, and nothing will stand in my way,” Benavidez said on Wednesday. He gave Cieslak credit for his combinations and toughness, yet issued a familiar warning: if the Polish champion tries to rough him up, “El Monstro” takes over. Alongside him, his father and trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr.,promised the Arizona crowd a show they won’t forget in the city where their boxing journey started.
Cieslak tuned into the press conference virtually from Poland, looking relaxed and confident ahead of his trip to the States. According to promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, the WBC champ has been in camp preparing for this exact shot for five months.
“I have worked my whole life to get a fight like this,” Cieslak said. He pointed to Benavidez’s recent win over Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, noting that Ramirez boxed well in spots—and Cieslak believes he knows the exact adjustments needed to finish the job on December 5.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Keith Thurman Steals the Co-Main Spotlight
The co-main event could easily headline a card of its own. Unbeaten knockout artist Vergil Ortiz Jr. is set to face former unified welterweight king Keith “One Time” Thurman over 12 rounds at middleweight. Golden Boy head Oscar De La Hoya framed the fight simply: Ortiz brings wrecking-ball power and a lion’s heart, while Thurman brings the veteran savvy and hunger to ruin the party.
For Ortiz, sharing the ring with Thurman is a full-circle moment. Back in 2017, Thurman was actually his favorite welterweight—Ortiz even rated him above Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia. Still, nostalgia goes out the window once the bell rings. Rather than hunting for a reckless first-round knockout, Ortiz plans to break Thurman down methodically, gather reads early, and put on a fight that feels like a movie.
Thurman, meanwhile, knows plenty of people are counting him out after his last outing. He isn’t bothered by the chatter.
“I have fought undefeated fighters before and pulled off several upsets, and that is exactly what I plan to do this time,” Thurman said, reminding everyone that styles make fights. He compared the matchup to his old war with Diego Chaves and vowed to use every trick in his bag to disrupt Ortiz’s rhythm.
Stacked Undercard: Emiliano Vargas, Nikita Tszyu, and Marco Romero
The rest of the pay-per-view lineup features three hungry prospects looking to steal the spotlight before the main events even walk out:
- Emiliano “El General” Vargas vs. Omar Juarez (10 Rounds – Super Lightweight): Unbeaten fan-favorite Emiliano Vargas loves the energy in Arizona, and he’s aiming to become the first fighter to stop the tough, battle-tested Juarez. Juarez won’t make it easy, though. He has been grinding away in Las Vegas with trainer Bob Santos and views beating a big name like Vargas as his ticket to world title contention.
- Nikita Tszyu vs. Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (10 Rounds – Super Welterweight): Undefeated Australian brawler Nikita Tszyu finally makes his U.S. debut in a 10-round test against Valenzuela.
- Marco “El Tiburon” Romero vs. Cruse Stewart (8 Rounds – Middleweight): Opening the PPV broadcast,heavy-handed prospect Marco Romero wants to lock up Prospect of the Year honors. He has been flattening opponents with his right hand lately, though he hinted he’s eager to introduce Stewart to his left hook.
How to Watch Benavidez vs. Cieslak and Ticket Details
Put together by Sampson Boxing and TGB Promotions—working alongside Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rank, No Limit Boxing, and the Rose Brothers—the December 5 card is a rare cross-promotional showcase. As DAZN North America Director of Boxing Britton Hardin put it on Wednesday, fans are watching the future of the sport unfold in real time.
- Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Venue: Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona
- Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT
- Broadcast: PBC Pay-Per-View on DAZN (via Prime Video)
- Tickets: Available now on Ticketmaster.com
