PHOENIX – November 9, 2026 – Unbeaten Mexican superstar and unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez showed off his skills in his hometown of Phoenix on Saturday at an open to the public media workout before he faces WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak in a high-stakes unification clash on Saturday, December 5 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
One of boxing’s pound-for-pound best and most exciting champions, Benavidez’s Arizona homecoming event will see the 29-year-old look to capture a third cruiserweight world championship against the bruising WBC champion Cieslak. The showdown will mark Benavidez’s first fight back in Arizona since a 2022 destruction of David Lemieux.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) made his cruiserweight debut in style this past Cinco de Mayo Weekend, dominating then champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on his way to an emphatic sixth-round stoppage. The victory followed up an impressive 2025 that saw him best rival and then unbeaten David Morrell Jr. by unanimous decision to add the WBA Light Heavyweight World Championship to the WBC title he’d earned in 2024 against former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk
Here is what Benavidez had to say at the media workout that took place at the Gila River Resorts and Casino at Vee Quiva on Saturday:
DAVID BENAVIDEZ
“The is ‘Monstro’s’ world. I have arrived, and I’m not going anywhere. Greatness isn’t given, it’s taken. And I’m gonna take my greatness.
“I’m really grateful for the people of Arizona. Having a Phoenix-native getting into the ring here in a three-belt unification is historic. I’m happy to be representing Phoenix just like I always do no matter where I am.
“My mindset and my focus is the same for every fight. I’m attacking every training camp with ferocity and viciousness. Because that’s what I want to show in the fight. I want to take these fighters apart and make a statement to everybody. I’m not playing with anyone.
“I got two belts in my first fight at cruiserweight and now I’m going for a third. Me being undisputed is inevitable. I’m going to make my way to the top of the pound-for-pound list very soon. I will be number one.
“The past three years, because I’ve been facing top opposition, I’ve been able to sharpen up my style and my skills. I’m working a lot on combinations, defense and body shots, but particularly the jab. The jab opens doors, but it closes doors as well.
“I’m always the kind of fighter who has plans A, B and C. So if he wants to complicate things in the first couple of rounds, then I have plans to stop whatever it is that he’s doing well.
“The biggest challenge with Cieslak is that he’s coming into this fight defending his title for the first time. Every fighter has that motivation after winning the title that you really don’t wanna let it go. He’s gonna come in strong, but I don’t run away from any competition.
“This workout is a way for me to give back to the community and show love to the people here. It’s something fun that we don’t do every day. I’m thrilled we were able to make this happen for the people.”
# # #
ABOUT BENAVIDEZ VS. CIESLAK
Benavidez vs. Cieslak will see Undefeated Mexican superstar and unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez make his Arizona homecoming in a high-stakes unification clash against WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak on Saturday, December 5 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event available on DAZN through Prime Video from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features a co-main event that will see all-action undefeated star Vergil Ortiz Jr. step into the ring against former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman in a 12-round middleweight affair.
The pay-per-view will also see a trio of rising stars enter the ring in separate bouts as unbeaten phenom Emiliano “El General” Vargas competes in a 10-round super lightweight fight against contender Omar Juarez, plus unbeaten Australian star Nikita Tszyu makes his U.S. debut in a 10-round super welterweight fight against Roberto Valenzuela Jr. and rising middleweight star Marco “El Tiburon” Romero returns to action in the eight-round opening bout dueling Cruse Stewart.
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
The event is promoted by Sampson Boxing and TGB Promotions. Ortiz vs. Thurman is co-
promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. The Vargas vs. Juarez fight is co-promoted by Top Rank. The Tszyu vs. Valenzuela fight is co-promoted by No Limit Boxing and the Rose Brothers.
