Osleys Iglesias, the undefeated Cuban nicknamed “El Tornado,” became the mandatory challenger for the IBF title and is aiming straight for Canelo Álvarez's reign at 168 pounds.

A challenger emerges strongly in the 168-pound division

Boxing never ceases to surprise, and in the super middleweight division, the tension is growing every day. While the spotlight is on the duel between Saúl Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford, a new protagonist is bursting onto the scene: Cuban Osleys Iglesias, who, after a resounding victory, became the Mexican boxer mandatory challenger according to the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

The night that changed everything

At the Casino de Montreal in Canada, Iglesias faced Russian Vladimir Shishkin in an elimination bout that would determine the next challenger. From the opening rounds, both fighters showed their hunger for victory, but it was the Cuban who prevailed with his aggressive style and devastating punching power. In the eighth round, after landing a series of devastating blows, he forced the referee to stop the fight, sealing his most important victory to date.

With this result, Osleys Iglesias not only maintains his undefeated record of 14 victories (13 of them by knockout), but also consolidates his reputation as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.

“The Tornado” and his challenge to the champion

Nicknamed “The Tornado,” Iglesias wasted no time in sending a defiant message: he is ready to face Canelo Álvarez or Crawford, regardless of who emerges victorious in September. His confidence is not unfounded: his career, which began in 2019 as a professional, includes victories over experienced names such as Isaac Chilemba and Andrii Velikovskyi, adding regional titles that catapulted him to the elite.

His style of constant pressure and his effectiveness in finishing fights quickly make him an uncomfortable opponent. For the Mexican, who is preparing for one of the most important fights of his career, the confirmation of a young, undefeated challenger hungry for glory means a major challenge in the short term.

A new era in the super middleweight division?

Iglesias' designation as mandatory challenger comes at a time when the super middleweight division is heating up with figures such as David Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol, and Chris Eubank Jr. However, the Cuban now has the official priority of the IBF, which puts him directly on the path to the undisputed champion.

The question on everyone's mind is clear: will this undefeated Cuban be the one to end Canelo Alvarez's reign, or will he be just another challenge in the long list of opponents who have tried to defeat him?