Osleys Iglesias finally has a dance partner.
BoxingScene has confirmed that Cuba’s Iglesias and Russia’s Pavel Silyagin have both immediately accepted the IBF’s invitation to challenge for its vacant super middleweight title fight. A negotiation period will be assigned to secure a deal before a purse bid hearing is assigned to determine promotional rights for the matter.
Iglesias, 14-0 (13 KOs), is a Cuban southpaw based in Berlin who now fights in Canada under the Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) banner. Silyagin, 16-0-1 (7 KOs), is promoted by RCC Boxing.
As suggested by BoxingScene throughout the process, Silyagin was bound to be selected given the contenders that were ranked ahead of him.
Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 63-3-2 (39 KOs), was the first to decline the offer, due to medical reasons. The former four-division champ and previous undisputed 168lbs king was recovering from surgery at the time he was notified of the vacant title fight opportunity.
As confirmed by Alvarez and boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, the legendary figure from Guadalajara will not fight again until September atop a “Mexico vs. the World” show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tijuana’s Jaime Munguia, 43-2 (35 KOs), was next in queue but immediately declined. The former WBO 154lbs titlist and current top 168lbs contender Munguia is now pursuing a shot at WBA titlist Jose Armandao Resendiz, 14-2 (11 KOs). If finalized, the showdown is targeted for this spring.
Hamzah Sheeraz, 22-0-1 (18 KOs), also declined to move forward for separate title fight options. He is in talks with both Diego Pacheco, 25-0 (18 KOs), and Christian Mbilli, 29-0-1 (24 KOs), for the vacant WBO and WBC titles, respectively.
England’s Troy Williamson was willing to take the fight and ride the momentum gained from his upset knockout win over unbeaten countryman Callum Simpson last month. However, he is bound to a rematch clause that was immediately exercised by Simpson, with BOXXER set to stage the rematch sometime in May.
That led to Silyagin, who will likely have to hit the road for his first title opportunity – but who also has the backing to bring Iglesias to Russia if it comes down to a purse bid.
The 32-year-old contender has fought exclusively in Russia since his 2020 pro debut. His best feat to date is also, strangely, the lone blemish on his record – a September 2023 upset draw with highly touted countryman Evgeny Shvedenko.
Three wins have followed, including a 10-round virtual shutout over unbeaten Pablo Exequiel Corzo last July 5 in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Iglesias has been the mandatory challenger since an eighth-round knockout of former title challenger Vladimir Shishkin. The bout took place last September 4 in Montreal – nine days before Alvarez was dethroned by Terence Crawford, 42-0 (31 KOs), via unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
The IBF belt became available when Crawford called it a career in December, three months after his fifth divisional title haul. He also vacated the WBA belt – which went to Resendiz by default as the interim titlist – and the WBO titles. Crawford was previously relieved of his WBC title for refusal to pay what he considered exorbitant sanctioning body fees.
