Osley’s Iglesias could become Canelo’s mandatory challenger with a win over Vladimir Shishkin – but he doesn’t believe in a fight against the Mexican.
Super middleweight Osleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 knockouts) is on the verge of his most important fight: On Thursday, September 4, the German-based Cuban will face Vladimir Shishkin (16-1, 10 knockouts) in an IBF eliminator in Montreal. The winner will become the official mandatory challenger for the IBF belt – currently held by Canelo Álvarez.
But although Iglesias is closer than ever to his goal, he himself doubts that the big title duel will happen. “I have to stay positive and believe that I will fight Canelo. But he’s smart enough to stay out of my way,” explained Iglesias in an interview with The Ring. “I think he’ll put the title down. I’m young, strong – I don’t think he wants to fight me.”
The 27-year-old is considered one of the most explosive fighters in the super middleweight division, with his fights lasting just three rounds on average. Trained in Germany by Georg Bramowski, Iglesias has developed from a technical amateur into an aggressive knockout puncher. Iglesias already has plans in case his world championship dream against Álvarez comes to nothing: “I’m ready to move up to light heavyweight – against Benavidez, Bivol or Beterbiev. No problem. I want big fights, not empty promises.” A dominant victory against Shishkin could be the springboard for this.
Text by Robin Josten