What To Know
- Boxers competing on the David Benavidez Jr. vs Michal Cieslak card on December 5 met with news media Wednesday in Hollywood.
- Benavidez was joined by Vergil Ortiz Jr., Keith Thuman, Emiliano Vargas, and rising prospect Marco Romero, who appeared in person, while opponent Michal Cieslak joined remotely from Poland.
- The card takes place at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, and will air as a Premier Boxing Champions PPV on DAZN via Prime Video.
Say what you will about the quality of the matchups themselves. The lineup of talent appearing in Hollywood, California on Wednesday to preview the upcoming card featuring David Benavidez Jr. and Michal Cieslak in the main event on December 5 should generate real enthusiasm among boxing fans.
Undefeated superstar and unified WBA and WBO World Cruiserweight champion David “El Monstro” Benavidez of Phoenix (32-0, 26 KOs) faces WBC World Cruiserweight champion Michal Cieslak of Poland (28-2, 22 KOs) in a title unification fight leading a Premier Boxing Champions event. It will air as a PPV on DAZN through Prime Video from Benavidez’s hometown venue at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
While Cieslak appeared via video from his training camp in Poland, Benavidez Jr. was joined byu the long awaited return of undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. (24-0, 22 KOs), former unified world champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs), undefeated super lightweight Emiliano “El General” Vargas (18-0, 14 KOs) and opponent Omar Juarez (21-2, 8 KOs) as well as super middleweight sensation Marco “El Tiburon” Romero (16-0, 14 KOs), who meets Cruse Stewart (10-4, 7 KOs), a former light heavyweight from Minnesota, in the opening bout at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The card also includes unbeaten Nikita Tszyu of Australia who takes on Roberto Valenzuela Jr. in a 10-round super welterweight bout.
David Benavidez Jr: ‘Nothing Is Gonna Stand In My Way’
Benavidez Jr. made his intentions clear to become the undisputed champion in the cruiserweight division, and he needs Cieslak’s belt next.
“We’ve been working extremely hard. We’ve already had thirteen weeks of training camp. I come hard no matter who I’m facing … I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m finally in the position to make myself the king at this weight class. Nothing is gonna stand in my way.”
Benavidez Jr. called his victory over former cruiserweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez the best fight of his career. It’s not hard to see why.
“It was the heaviest I’ve been and the fastest and strongest I’ve felt,” explained Benavadez Jr. “Fighting the guys at lower weight classes has helped make this transition to cruiserweight easier. I feel like my combinations and punch output is gonna be too much for anyone in this division.”
Cieslak struggled a bit with the remote set-up, but managed to get a few points across, expressing his enthusiasm for fighting in the U.S. against the unified champion and saying he’s confident about the outcome.
“I’ve been working my whole life for a fight like this. I can’t wait to show everyone all that I can do,” said the Polish champion, who is familiar with his opponent.
“I’ve watched a lot of David’s fights. He’s a great fighter who throws a lot of punches. But we’re both warriors. We’ve both been working toward a fight like this and I know we’ll give everyone a great show.
He commented that he watched Benavidez’s fight against Ramirez and wasn’t quite as impressed as Benavidez was with himself. “I’ve seen David’s last fight and I thought Zurdo was fighting pretty well. You’ll see on December 5 what he could have done better.”
Benavidez Jr. acknowledged that he won’t look past Cieslak.
“I’m not willing to just say I’m the best, I’d rather earn it. I’m the best fighter in all of boxing, but I have to prove it. Cieslak is at this level for a reason. He’s got good combinations, but if he wants to give me a hard time, that’s when ‘El Monstro’ comes out.”
Vergil Ortiz Jr. Returns Against Veteran Keith Thurman Jr.
Would fans rather see Vergil Ortiz Jr. facing Jaron Ennis or another top tier opponent? Of course. But after more than a year out of the ring, largely his own doing, boxing is better with Ortiz Jr. back in action. If it takes facing a faded veteran in Keith Thurman Jr., at least Ortiz Jr. is back on the job.
Ortiz Jr. appeared relieved to be on stage, and surprisingly emotional about having a fight to look forward to at long last.
“I’m just very happy to be back in my element. All I know is boxing. I’m facing a very game opponent in Keith Thurman. He was my favorite welterweight in 2017, and I picked him over Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia,” said Ortiz Jr.
“There’s no better feeling than having a big fight coming up. People are overlooking Thurman because he got stopped by a world champion who can tie his shoes standing up,” referring to Sebastian Fundora.
“I just want to be in exciting fights. That’s the point of boxing. I want to be remembered as a guy who never said no to a fight,” said Ortiz Jr. “Obviously I’m familiar with Thurman, but we’re not gonna take anyone lightly.”
Give Thurman Jr. credit. He owned up to being crushed by Fundora in his last fight. But he was no less enthusiastic and thrilled to be in the ring as he has for more than a decade, calling the match with Ortiz Jr. a redemption fight.
“My last performance just wasn’t my night. I did feel I started to settle into the fight. I ultimately couldn’t show the world how much of a dog Keith Thurman is,” vowing to stay active no matter what happens.
“I have a lot of beautiful boxing history on my resume and I’m definitely looking to add another piece of history on December 5. “I’m fighting one of the young guys who wants to be the future of boxing. But I’ve faced undefeated fighters in the past and I’ve delivered some upsets.
“I know some people are doubting me after my last performance, but styles make fights … I’m looking forward to upsetting the apple cart and re-establishing my name.”
Young Guns Vargas and Romero Bring Firepower To Arizona
Super lightweight Emiliano Vargas is crossing the bridge from prospect to contender and give him credit for staying active while waiting for title opportunities in front of the fans. It’s a smart matchup with Las Vegas based Omar Juarez, who should have some support in the house.
“Every time I’ve fought in Arizona, it’s been nothing but fireworks. The energy from that crowd is only going to make me fight harder,” said Vargas, who is up against an opponent who has never been stopped. He vows to be the first
“In order to make my dreams a reality, I have to crush Juarez’s. That’s what this sport is about. My dream has always been to become a world champion, and I’m knocking at the doorstep.
“I’m my biggest critic. I want to be the best fighter I can possibly be. I’m pushing my limits. Nothing is gonna stop me from closing the year out strong,” said Vargas.
Juarez knows what he’s up against. Trained by Bob Santos, he and Vargas are both based in Las Vegas and know each other. “I’ve just been staying ready and staying active. I’ve been away from my home and working with Bob Santos in Las Vegas getting the best work and the best sparring,” said Juarez, who is from Brownsville, Texas.
“I’ve learned a lot from training in Las Vegas. Most important is that I’m made to be a prizefighter. I just can’t wait to demonstrate all my blood, sweat and tears and do what I love,” promising a competitive and fan-friendly fight between two Mexican-American opponents coming to prove something.
Super middleweight Marco Romero scored a first-round knockout less than two weeks ago. The Olathe, Kansas native sees no reason not to return right way and deliver another knockout.
“As soon as we got out of the ring, I told everyone I was ready. I was ready to go again the next day,” laughed Romero. “This has been my statement year. I’m demonstrating that with every performance. I’m ready to stamp my name in the history books of boxing,” saying his goal is to be named the Prospect of the Year.
Romero is at the top of my list, and another win could seal it for him.
De La Hoya: Respect For a Former Champion
Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, joins Tom Brown of TBG and Samson Lewcowicz of Sampson Boxing promoting the December 5 card. All seems forgiven between Ortiz Jr. and De La Hoya, at least for the moment.
He spoke from his perspective as a former world champion and Hall of Famer about Ortiz Jr.’s opponent in Thurman Jr. with a fighter’s respect.
“I know exactly what Keith Thurman brings to the table and exactly what his style and resume is. He brings heart to the ring every single fighter. I know he’s hungry, and when you have a hungry fighter with experience and IQ, he can upset quite a few fighters,” said De La Hoya. It’s nearly as tall an order as it was when Thurman faced Fundora, but he deserves respect for giving it a shot.
Benavidez Jr. says despite all the other declarations on stage, he wants the best performance of the night in December. That distinction will be hard to win on a card loaded with ambitious contenders and prospects.
“All these fighters here have that dog in us. We’re all trying to steal the show. I can’t wait to bring these fights to Phoenix, Arizona.”
Tickets for the live event are on sale now and available through Ticketmaster.com.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
