Osleys Iglesias has his sights set on a massive unification clash with whoever walks away victorious from Saturday’s battle between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli. The unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion wants the WBC crown, though his shot at that prize largely hinges on the final result in Riyadh.
“Whoever wins, though, I want to fight him,” Iglesias said to The Ring. The unbeaten Cuban made his first IBF title defense on October 8, stopping Oliver Zaren in the seventh round in Quebec City. He now wants another champion rather than another challenger.
The hard-hitting Cuban notched his first IBF defense on October 8 by halting Oliver Zaren in the seventh round in Quebec City. Now, he wants belts instead of contenders.
Sitting at 16-0 with 15 knockouts, Iglesias is pulling for a Canelo victory on October 31, yet he insists he is ready for either man. He sees Saturday’s headliner as an even matchup, crediting Alvarez’s ring craft while respecting Mbilli’s nonstop aggression. Regardless of who prevails, his target remains unchanged.
“Hopefully Canelo wins; it will be the most interesting outcome for the division. Whoever wins, though, I want to fight him. For me, it doesn’t really matter. God willing, the winner will face me. I’m ready; that great opportunity will come, and from there I will win that fight,” Iglesias said to The Ring.
Luring Canelo into the ring presents the steeper climb. Iglesias stands tall, punches with concussive force from the southpaw stance, and brings real tactical versatility. If he elects to box from range behind a disciplined right jab, Alvarez could struggle to work his way inside effectively.
Behind that lead hand, Iglesias can neutralize Canelo’s offense, wear him down, and guide him straight into heavy left hands. Alvarez would have to close distance and target the ribs without eating clean counters. Against someone with Iglesias’ knockout ratio, stepping into range is dangerous business.
The Cuban possesses the pedigree to execute that long-range game plan. Eye of the Tiger lists him with 184 wins across 200 amateur contests, a run highlighted by triumphs over David Morrell Jr. and Gleb Bakshi. His pro record is relatively brief, but his technical schooling runs deep.
That seasoned background proves he can stick to a smart boxing blueprint instead of hunting for one punch. Alvarez would certainly have to respect those skills when mapping out his future schedule.
Mbilli represents the far more realistic option for Iglesias. Mbilli’s relentless engine would spark a wild clash of styles, handing the Cuban clean targets as the French puncher charges in. That brings plenty of peril for Mbilli as well, yet an Iglesias-Mbilli showdown feels much easier to make than Canelo voluntarily accepting such a dangerous fight.
Iglesias took care of business in his initial defense and stated his claim. Nothing guarantees him the victor of Saturday’s bout. If Canelo claims the WBC strap, Iglesias may discover that getting the Mexican superstar to sign the contract is much tougher than figuring out how to box him.
