For the majority of his 13-year career, Benavidez and his manager Sampson Lewkowicz have been joint at the hip. But their fighter-manager relationship will be up after Benavidez's WBA, WBO and WBC cruiserweight unification with Cieslak.

The 29-year-old, who sits No. 5 on The Ring's pound-for-pound list, is prepared to keep working with PBC and Al Haymon, but as co-promoters.

"This is the last fight on my contract,” Benavidez explained on the Last Stand Podcast with host Brian Custer. “I've honored the contract. It’s been ten years, so a long time. I wouldn't say I outgrew Sampson but where I'm at in my career, he's done a wonderful job, one of the greatest of all time, but it's my time to do my own thing, like [Floyd] Mayweather and everyone with their own promotional company. It will be DB Promotions.

"The people I work with is Luis De Cubas, Al Haymon, TGB Promotions ... Sampson Lewkowicz, too – they've all been really good with me, so I want to stay on this side of the street ... I'm still PBC all the way."

Benavidez (32-0, 26 KOs) is in the market for a big fight. Assuming he beats Cieslak, he’s mentioned Ring and Zuffa cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia as an opponent he would like to face in May 2027.

The hard-hitting Australian isn’t the only fighter Benavidez has his eyes on. Oleksandr Usyk, The Ring’s heavyweight champion, is another bout he’s interested in.

For now, the Arizona native wants to focus on the task in front of him, and he can’t wait to put on a show.

“There’s a lot of things I can take advantage of with this guy,” Benavidez said. “He’s a big guy but he’s slow. I can attack the body, combinations; there are just so many things I can do. I’m going for the knockout.”