Undefeated Mexican superstar and unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez returns home to Arizona for a high-stakes unification clash against WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak on Saturday, December 5 (PBC/DAZN PPV) at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
In the co-main event, Vergil Ortiz Jr. faces former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a 12-round middleweight bout.
The pay-per-view will also see a trio of rising stars enter the ring in separate bouts: unbeaten Emiliano “El General” Vargas competes in a 10-round super lightweight fight, and rising middleweight star Marco “El Tiburon” Romero returns to action in an eight-round special feature. Unbeaten Australian star Nikita Tszyu makes his U.S. debut in the eight-round super welterweight opening bout.
A three-division world champion, Benavidez will look to capture a third world title at 200 pounds when he takes on WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michael Cieslak in a showdown that will mark Benavidez’s first fight back in Arizona since his 2022 destruction of David Lemieux.
The 29-year-old Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) made his cruiserweight debut in style on Cinco de Mayo Weekend, dominating then-champion Gilberto Ramirez on his way to a sixth-round stoppage.
“I’m excited to be fighting in Arizona once again,” said Benavidez. “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here. I’m gonna give the fans in my home state of Arizona a great performance on December 5.”
The latest in a long line of Polish cruiserweight world champions that includes Tomasz Adamek, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk and Krzysztof Glowacki, Cieslak (28-2, 22 KOs) earned his belt with a fourth-round stoppage of former champion Jean Pascal in June 2025.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole life,” said Cieslak. “This is exactly why I’ve been training – to test myself and compete on the biggest stage against fighters like Benavidez. I’m confident, but there’s no point in talking nonsense. The focus has to be on hard work. Those who know me understand that I’m not going there just to show up. I will bring all three belts back to Poland after December 5.”
The co-main event will feature a high-level crossroads showdown as undefeated star Vergil Ortiz Jr. battles former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a 12-round middleweight bout that pits Ortiz against his most accomplished foe to date. At the same time, Thurman will look to return to world title contention with a December 5 win.
Ortiz (24-0, 22 KOs) has dominated his competition and is on his way to becoming one of the sport’s most highly acclaimed rising stars. In his last fight, the 28-year-old Ortiz stopped Erickson Lubin in the second round of their November 2025 matchup.
“I am pumped to share the ring with a former world champion in Keith Thurman, who I highly respect for taking the fight when everyone else decided to hide behind politics,” said Ortiz. “Being the co-main for Benavidez is an honor as I respect him equally as a fighter and a person. It’s gonna be a great night of boxing, and overall I’m just happy to be active again.”
The 37-year-old Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) most recently dropped a March showdown with WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Fundora. Before that, his only blemish came in a 2019 Fight of the Year against boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, and Thurman lost a narrow split decision.
“I’m back with a vengeance!” said Thurman. “I’m bringing the heat in December with an action fight against Vergil Ortiz – another young lion. Fans should really enjoy this one – you know the resume. I fight the best, and the gladiator in me isn’t done yet. Get ready, Christmas is coming early.”
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