Osleys Iglesias will wait out the next three days to see if Jaime Munguia will become his next opponent.
Chances are, the Cuban knockout artist is not holding his breath.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has moved on to Tijuana’s Munguia, 45-2 (35 KOs), in its search to secure a vacant 168lbs title fight opponent for Iglesias, 14-0 (13 KOs). Both sides will have three days from the time of Monday’s receipt of invitation to accept the opportunity. From there, a negotiation period will be assigned should both boxers agree to move forward.
Iglesias is a Cuban boxer based in Berlin but who primarily fights in Canada under Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM). Munguia is with Zanfer Promotions, along with ties to Top Rank.
Munguia was next in line to be contacted by the IBF after former four-division champ Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), declined the offer. Alvarez is still recovering from surgery performed in October and will not be available in time to move forward with this fight.
Whether Munguia opts to accept remains to be seen.
The process has not at all dampened the enthusiasm of the Iglesias side of the equation.
“We are just happy that the process is going on,” EOTTM president Camille Estephan told BoxingScene. “We will see if Munguia wants to step into the ring with Osleys.
“To tell you the truth, Osleys Iglesias is just ready to fight anyone. We just want that title.”
Iglesias remains the top IBF super middleweight contender in line for the title vacated last month by Terence “Bud” Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs), upon the latter’s retirement. Crawford has completely severed ties with all of the sanctioning bodies upon announcing his exit from the sport, roughly three months after his September 13 win over Alvarez to become the super middleweight king.
Crawford’s historic win took place nine days after Iglesias became the IBF No. 1 contender, following his eighth-round knockout of former title challenger Vladimir Shishkin. It was never believed that the Alvarez-Crawford winner would face Iglesias, or honestly any of the mandatory challengers in waiting.
Iglesias’ abovementioned win over Shishkin served as his only fight of 2025. It was a letdown from his four knockouts in 2024, though that one singular win secured what will become his first major title fight.
All he needs is a willing dance partner.
Munguia has not fought since his May 3 rematch win over Bruno Surace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The bout took place on the undercard of Alvarez’s win over William Scull to become a two-time undisputed 168lbs champion.
With the win, Munguia avenged an upset knockout defeat to Surace just five months prior in Tijuana. However, the revenge-fueled win was clouded in controversy when Munguia tested positive for exogenous testosterone.
The matter became the subject of a drug testing investigation, which resulted in Munguia avoiding any major disciplinary action. Even without a suspension, though, he still remains inactive since last May.
Furthermore, his team is unlikely to accept the invitation to enter talks to face Iglesias. In that event, the IBF will continue down its list of contenders until the highest ranked available fighter accepts its offer.
