To the surprise of nobody, Osleys Iglesias’ next fight will not come against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF will plan to continue down its list of ranked contenders in search of an opponent for the Berlin-based Cuban knockout artist. Mexico’s Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), was in line to challenge for the vacant 168lbs title but informed the sanctioning body that he was not available as he continues to recover from the elbow surgery that was performed last October.
Iglesias, 14-0 (13 KOs), is the sanctioning body’s mandatory 168lbs contender and first in line to challenge for the IBF title.
The belt became available when Terence “Bud” Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs), parted ways with all of his hardware upon his announced retirement. He claimed the undisputed crown (though never paying for the WBC belt) with a triumphant and career-defining unanimous decision win over Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The celebrated Netflix event took place nine days after Iglesias became the IBF number one contender following his 8th round knockout of former title challenger Vladimir Shishkin. Their September 4 clash in Montreal marked Iglesias’ lone piece of ring action for 2025 after a four-win campaign in 2024.
As for his next opponent for the vacant crown… that remains to be seen.
Former 154lbs titlist Jaime Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs), is next on the list. The 29-year-old from Tijuana has not fought since a 12-round win over Bruno Surace on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The victory avenged his stunning 6th round knockout defeat to Surace six months prior, at home in Tijuana and which was hailed as the 2024 Upset of the Year.
The win came under dubious circumstances, however. Post-fight drug testing revealed an adverse finding for exogenous testosterone.
A drug testing investigation ended without Munguia facing any real consequences. He was placed on probation by the WBC, though sanctioning bodies do not hold the authority to issue suspensions.
Munguia is also No. 4 with the WBC and – along with other contenders – is waiting out the status of the ordered Christian Mbilli-Hamzah Sheeraz vacant title fight.
Sheeraz, 22-0-1 (18 KOs), was also ordered by the WBO to enter talks with fellow unbeaten contender Diego Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs), for its vacant title.
Needless to say, Munguia has options – though either scenario would put him in with a high-risk super middleweight contender and in talks with the same promoter. Eye of the Tiger Management represents both Iglesias and Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs).
Further down the list, Callum Simpson is still No. 5 but will be removed during the next IBF ratings update due to his upset knockout loss to Troy Williamson. Sheeraz is one spot below Simpson, though seemingly onto other business.
As previously outlined by BoxingScene, the search will then likely lead to Russia’s Pavel Siylagin, 16-0-1 (7 KOs), whose own high-risk, low-reward status leaves him as a willing participant for such an opportunity.
