Super middleweight contender Osleys Iglesias, from Cuba, now looks likely to face Russia's Vladimir Shishkin in an IBF eliminator, according to Camille Estephan, Iglesias' promoter.
The sanctioning body had previously approved a contest between No. 4-ranked Iglesias and the man who sits one place above him in the IBF super middleweight rankings, Kevin Lele Sadjo. However, Sadjo engaged in a bout in the interim and thus took himself out of the running. Shishkin, ranked second by the IBF, would now appear to be the man to face the Canada-based Iglesias, 13-0 (12 KOs), in a fight for the right to challenge the champion, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
"I'm delighted with this outcome," Estephan posted on social media. "The IBF orders Canelo a No. 1 position and mandatory elimination fight. Iglesias vs. Shishkin."
Shishkin, 16-1 (10 KOs), fought for the vacant IBF belt last year, losing a contentious decision to William Scull in October. Scull then fought Alvarez in a bout for all four belts, only to lose a drab encounter on points. Canelo had previously relinquished the IBF title because he had no interest in facing Scull and with a September date with Terence Crawford all but confirmed, how much attention he pays to the outcome of Iglesias vs. Shishkin remains to be seen.