Michał Cieślak becomes the WBC champion.

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Rollin, Sep 14, 2026 at 4:47 PM.

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  1. Rollin

    Rollin Boxing Addict Full Member

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    E-mailed the belt. A tad of a karmic justice for the Makabu fight some considere a robbery in Kinshasha.
     
    Rollin, Sep 14, 2026 at 4:47 PM
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  2. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Wasn't the Okolie fight closer than advertised, too?

    I didn't watch it but I thought someone said so.

    I do think it is a little odd how they are just giving belts away, now.
     
    catchwtboxing, Sep 14, 2026 at 5:09 PM
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  3. Rollin

    Rollin Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think it has more to do with Noel fighting a Zuffa signed Opetaia. It was always Cieślak-Benavidez for the vacant belt, or Cieślak elevated.
     
    Rollin, Sep 14, 2026 at 5:45 PM
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  4. Sandman_

    Sandman_ The Phoenix flew & the Big Fish knew Full Member

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    Jai Opetaia beat the reigning WBC Cruiserweight champ on the weekend. Stopped him inside the distance.

    The WBC should stop polishing the knobs of Mexican Americans & send him a belt.
     
    Sandman_, Sep 14, 2026 at 5:48 PM
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  5. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    If Dana and Turki's goal is to make the alphabet belts appear illegitimate this just adds to it
     
    KO KIDD, Sep 14, 2026 at 6:12 PM
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  6. peter_uk

    peter_uk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    From a sporting perspective maybe somewhat undeserved, but from a commercial perspective the WBC are obviously not going to sanction fights under a organisation intent on their destruction. Boxers who have signed for Zuffa, or fight in a Zuffa promoted card, cannot object to a hard shoulder shown by the sanctioning bodies when Zuffa's raison d'etre is the destruction of those same sanctioning bodies.
     
    peter_uk, Sep 14, 2026 at 7:14 PM
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  7. Sandman_

    Sandman_ The Phoenix flew & the Big Fish knew Full Member

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    The WBC sanctioned a fight on the weekend involving Ryan Garcia & a Zuffa fighter. They're sanctioning fights based on two criteria:

    1. Money &
    2. The racial ethnicity of the fighters involved.
     
    Sandman_, Sep 14, 2026 at 9:06 PM
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  8. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    They don’t wanna see a sole succeed.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2026 at 5:33 PM
    WhataRock, Sep 14, 2026 at 11:41 PM
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  9. Bigplatts

    Bigplatts Active Member Full Member

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    The Zuffa belt wasn’t on the line for Garcia-Benn tho so it makes sense that the WBC would sanction that fight and not the Opetaia fight.
     
    Bigplatts, Sep 15, 2026 at 3:54 AM
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  10. Sandman_

    Sandman_ The Phoenix flew & the Big Fish knew Full Member

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    The reason the WBC belt wasn't on the line in the Opetaia v Noel Mikaelian fight is b/c the WBC wants to gift it to David Benavidez. No other reason.
     
    Sandman_, Sep 15, 2026 at 10:43 AM
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  11. like a boss

    like a boss have gloves will travel Full Member

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    Cieslak has been elevated but as the WBC have mandated Cieslak-Benavidez, they might just as well be fighting for the vacant title.
     
    like a boss, Sep 15, 2026 at 1:13 PM
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  12. Dangerwood84

    Dangerwood84 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's all a bit silly but I think he's a worthy alphabet champion if you look at his entire career.
     
    Dangerwood84, Sep 15, 2026 at 2:44 PM
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  13. ad4m88

    ad4m88 Active Member Full Member

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    Feel like belts mean nothing anymore there are some terrible boxers out there getting to call themselves world champs
     
    ad4m88, Sep 15, 2026 at 2:53 PM
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  14. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Mexican-Americans sell tickets and PPV buys. Australians don't. It's lame as hell and the WBC sucks, but that's why.

    If Jai Opetaia from Australia were Juan Ochoa from Texas, he'd be a huge draw.
     
    Barrf, Sep 15, 2026 at 2:54 PM
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  15. Sandman_

    Sandman_ The Phoenix flew & the Big Fish knew Full Member

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    Sandman_, Sep 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM
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