The IBF super middleweight is open, and the question is now simple. Who is willing to fight Osleys Iglesias for this.
Iglesias sits at number one in the IBF rankings and is clearly motivated. The tie was opened when Terence Crawford retired, and the sanctioning body moved quickly to announce a fight. Iglesias is the obvious choice. There is no classification of disputes and no other interpretation.
What slows down the process of rejection.
The IBF made inquiries with Canelo Alvarez, who declined, citing recovery from elbow surgery. Jaime Munguia also passed the chance. There was no decision in violation of the IBF rules, but all of the title value was removed from the title picture and Iglesias was left to wait.
That pushed the mind to the bottom of the stage.
The next call seems likely to go to Pavel Silyagin, who is currently ranked seventh by the IBF. Silyagin is not confirmed, but he is positioned as the most likely competitor who has not reduced or sold himself.
Iglesias found this position the hard way. In September 2025, he stopped Vladimir Shishkin in the eighth round of the IBF eliminator. It was a one-sided fight that removed any doubt about his position. Since then, no one higher than him has stepped forward.
For now, the IBF’s problem is not finding a champion. This is finding someone willing to share the ring with him.
The southpaw Iglesias is considered by some to be the most avoided fighter in the 168 lb division. Fighters had long ignored him before Canelo and Munguia turned down a fight against him. His punching power is probably what makes fighters shy away from him. Iglesias is a two-punch puncher, and his right hand is better than his left. Usually, the opposite is the south side.
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Last updated on 01/15/2026