For a long time I judiciously held off appraising him, because with Polish undefeated prospects brought along slowly you can never tell if they are being protected a) because they're harboring glass, b) as they are one-trick-pony frauds who can only thrive against one particular style, or against opposition up to a hard, not very high threshold of class, or c) they really are the goods and well, that is just how they be rollin' up in Poland. It would now seem that Cieślak's true potential has been waiting patiently behind door number three. He celebrated his 30th birthday last month, so time's a-wasting to cash in on that potential. His record would currently be 20-0 (14) but for his 2016 victory over fellow unbeaten domestic prospect Nikodem Jeżewski being overturned into a No Contest. Both he and Jeżewski (who is now a friend and sparring partner) were popped for banned substances and served ten month bans from the sport. Instead the record of Cieślak now reads 19-0-0-1 (13), with his perhaps most impressive result coming just a couple of hours ago when he demolished Ola Durodola. [Jeżewski, meanwhile, despite having been clubbed into defeat on national television - in mildly controversial fashion - currently boasts a clean slate with a 17-0-1 (9) record...] His power is at least in the same neighborhood as guys like Kudryashov and Gassiev. His exact skill level is still a speculative matter until he faces a more versatile breed of rival, but he seems to have some halfway decent craft for such a big puncher. If his chin is the goods as well he could be a genuine contender, further swelling an increasingly stacked (downright crowded) 200lb roster. Here is Cieślak vs. Jeżewski: (he nailed him with a flush looping right on his eardrum as they collapsed into the clinch, but then in the heat of the moment also got in a rabbit punch as he was falling. So really there is a number of different outcomes you could reasonably argue the ref making there: Cieślak TKO3, Jeżewski DQ3, or NC as it ended up becoming anyway for a totally separate reason) Cieślak vs. Durodola: This content is protected Cieślak vs. Youri Kalenga (his previous best result), this past March: This content is protected
A showdown with Głowacki for domestic supremacy would be a blockbuster event in Poland, and great watch for the rest of us.
Over six months have passed since this particular thread's creation (which coincided with Cieślak's last in-ring appearance, versus Durodola) ...not a peep about this guy. Nothing lined up, no rumors... He's still ranked IBF #15, WBO #9 and WBC #2 but if he doesn't perform soon he will lose his ranking either due to fellow contenders leapfrogging him, or simply expiring out if he reaches the one year mark of inactivity.
Oh, wait - turns out he does have something lined up, for just a few weeks from now. Michał Cieślak vs. Nuri "The Albanian Tyson" Seferi will take place December 20th for the IBF cruiserweight International belt. Seferi, now 42 years old (and the less crappy elder brother of Tyson Fury victim Sefer "The Real Deal" Seferi) is currently not ranked by any org.
Seferi, unlike his brother, is teak-tough and has never been knocked out. His one stoppage defeat (among 9 defeats total, in 49 bouts) was due to a rib injury, eighteen years ago. He is, however, also 42 years old. I think Cieślak taking him out in dominant fashion would be an impressive statement....but, on the other hand, a decision without even a knockdown would be sort of a disappointment.
Can't find the thread, and can't remember who was friend with who... but anyways I found on google an interview in polish with Cieslak right before the Huck vs Glowacki fight where he said that he is expecting a surprise. They sparred multiple times in Poland during Glowackis camp. Back then he was very nice about Glowacki and Wlodarczyk as well. Saying that he supports them. It could be nice to see a fight between them but I highly doubt it. Polish fighters always have 1 or 2 guys around the top levels of the heavier divisions.
He was supposed to start his post-Makabu comeback at last week's gala in Poland. That fell through for indeterminate reasons. As for a rematch with his Congolese rival for the Cruiser green belt, it'll be a while before he finds himself again in line: http://www.bokser.org/content/2020/08/14/102022/index_mobile.jsp Bottom line: Makabu gets one voluntary and then must take on two mandatory challengers, but despite Cieślak being ranked #2 by the WBC he will not factor into either defense. A pair of upcoming eliminators will determine whom Makabu faces as consecutive mandatories after his voluntary defense. First is the winner of Mchunu (#1) vs. Durodola (#3) II, which has yet to see a postponement date set, and next is the winner of Papin (#4) vs. Fayfer (#5), which took place last month with Papin emerging victorious by TKO6. Kind of unfair to Cieślak, but what can you do?
I dig Makabu but the funny business in the Congo left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll be rooting for Mchunu in their rematch(yeah it's a forgone conclusion that he beats Durodola again) That's a compelling rematch though. The former holy grail for hardcore boxing fans in the 2010s lived up to all the hype when it finally surfaced - I'm sure the rematch will deliver too as Mchunu has had a bit of a resurgence as of late. Makabu has his work cut out for him with those rematches though. Will be very impressive if he comes out on top in both considering the highly competitive his meetings with Mchunu and Papin were.
This content is protected Cieślak looked white-hot taking out Taylor Mabika in a rebound performance last December*...but, is homeboy (er, that is, Naughty Boy) going to ever set foot in the ring in 2021? Already balls deep into April, here... This content is protected *only highlights of that one to be found online, far as I can tell.
I know he was sparring with buddy Artur Szpilka to help prep him for the Różański fight but...shouldn't he be about ready for his own next assignment? Why not something on that same gala, even if just a stay-busy?
Huh, seems like FB won't let that embed for some reason (it does that with some videos, but not all, really no idea why) so here, re-upped for y'all: This content is protected Always impressive when someone can deaden their opponent's arm with the impact of blocked punches. In this case, an "ulna smashed completely to hell" KO.
