Promoter Camille Estephan is planning a super-middleweight duel: Osleys Iglesias is to fight former world championship challenger Vladimir Shishkin in Quebec.
Cuban super-middleweight Osleys Iglesias is about to face Russian world title challenger Vladimir Shishkin in an IBF world title eliminator in Quebec, according to his promoter Camille Estephan.
Iglesias (13-0, 12 knockouts), who trains in Bremen, was initially in talks with Frenchman Kevin Lele Sadjo. However, the deal fell through due to disagreements over the venue and date – and now the former world championship challenger Shishkin (16-1, 10 knockouts) is to be lured to Canada instead.
“Sadjo competed in Africa, will now drop down the IBF rankings and has missed his chance,” said Estephan in an interview with Boxsport Magazine. “The IBF has now ordered Shishkin (No. 2) to fight Iglesias (No. 4) for the No. 1 ranking – the winner will be the mandatory challenger for the IBF world title. Both sides have agreed and we are in advanced negotiations. I can say that we are close to an agreement. Our aim is to bring the fight to Quebec. We want to copy the successful concept with Christian Mbilli.”
The 27-year-old southpaw Iglesias signed with Montreal-based Eye of the Tiger Management in early 2024 after defending his IBO world title against Artur Reis in Magdeburg. Since then, the Cuban has been in impressive form: four consecutive knockout victories against Marcelo Coceres, Evgeny Shvedenko, Sena Agbeko, and Petro Ivanov speak volumes – Iglesias now wants to take the next step toward the world’s top.
Shishkin traveled to Germany last October to fight William Scull for the vacant IBF super middleweight world title in Falkensee. The Russian lost by unanimous decision and hasn’t fought since. Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez is now the new IBF champion: The Mexican superstar secured the title on May 3 in Riyadh with a points victory over Scull, thus reuniting the super middleweight belts.
Negotiations between the teams are ongoing and all indications are that Quebec will soon be the scene of an explosive super-middleweight eliminator.