Cuban super middleweight Osleys Iglesias had a frustrating 2025, with various offers turned down and negotiations falling through for world title eliminators.
His promoter Camille Estephan has claimed that his ability unmatched at 168 pounds, while also struggling to make the Cuban sensation. However, following an impressive eighth-round stoppage against Vladimir Shishkin last September, the 28-year-old southpaw will finally get a crack at a world title when he collides with Pavel Silyagin at Montreal Casino on April 9. Four other fighters ahead of Silyagin (16-0-1, 7 KOs) in the IBF rankings turned down the chance to fight Iglesias for the vacant red and gold belt.
“We’ve spoke for a long time about this man being the boogeyman of the super middleweight division.” Camille Estephan, Iglesias’ promoter, said exclusively to Boing Social. “I think this man is going to be producing highlights for boxing fans for the next decade. Well, it has already started, but it will continue for a long while yet.”
Estephan has struggled to match the Cuban knockout artist residing in Germany since he recorded a string of devastating early knockouts against Evgeny Shvedenko, Sena Agbeko and Petro Ivanov in 2024.
“It’s not only the IBF; it is also for the IBO,” Estephan explained. “Although the IBO is not one of the major four, it’s a very important title. Eye the Tiger as a promotional company we need to really, really win this fight. It put us in a whole different place.
“With the WBC [super middleweight] world title in our hands right now with Christian Mbilli. If we end up the IBF and the IBO, we are right around the corner to harvest some of our efforts over the last couple of years. It really is an important fight for us. We must win this fight.”
Silyagin, 32, will make his first professional appearance outside his native Russia next Thursday. His amateur record (56-17, 2 KOs on Boxrec) reads well, with victories against Mehmut Unal, Imam Khataev and Joshua Buatsi.
“We know him well,” Estephan added. “He came to spar Artur Beterbiev in Marc Ramsay’s gym. He’s extremely skilled and very technical. So, it is going to be a very difficult fight for sure. But we do believe that Iglesias is just in another league. Obviously, it remains to be seen, but when you look at his prior competition, guys like Shishkin, he put a beating on them. And Shishkin especially is a good defensive fighter! And the guys before him too with… just scary highlights. It’s incredible. I don’t think anybody can get in the ring with Iglesias and have the chance to win, I really don’t.”
Elsewhere at super middleweight Eye of the Tiger stablemate Mbilli holds the WBC belt, Jose Armando Resendiz is the WBA champion, and the WBO belt is vacant.
