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IBF orders Osleys Iglesias vs. Canelo in fight for vacant 168 title

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Image: Boxing Results: Osleys Iglesias Dominates Sena Agbeko in Crushing Second Round Stoppage

The undefeated southpaw Iglesias is statuesque, powerful and packs a lot of punches. He’s 27 and adolescent, and a late-career fight would be a nightmare for the 6-foot-10 Canelo. But it’s not just him.

So with Canelo likely to decline to fight Iglesias for the vacant IBF belt, the sanctioning body will move down the rankings and offer a chance to No. 4 Jaime Munguia or No. 5 Callum Simpson. Munguia already has options for other fights against better-known fighters in the 168-pound division. It’s unlikely he’ll agree to a fight with the Osleys.

Callum Simpson was knocked out in the tenth round by Troy Williamson on December 20, 2025. It’s possible that the IBF decides not to ask Simpson because he suffered a large penalty after his defeat.

Hamzah Sheeraz is ranked 6th in the IBF rankings, but he has other options to fight for the vacant WBC or WBO belts. His chances of winning one of those belts are probably better than if he were to fight former Cuban amateur talent Iglesias. On paper, this is a bad matchup for Sheeraz.

Why Silyagin makes the most sense

Number 7 in the IBF ranking is Pavel Silyagin. He is still undefeated, but has not faced any significant opponents in his five-year career. There is a chance that if asked, he will agree to this fight. The 32-year-old Silyagin is not a power puncher and in his last fight on July 5, 2025, he struggled to defeat the little-known Pablo Exequiel Corzo.

Without much pop in his punches, Silyagin will face him in an IBF title fight against Osleys Iglesias if the IBF offers him the opportunity. I predict that Silyagin will ultimately face Iglesias because it makes the most sense for him to take that fight.

Crawford saw this coming

Had Crawford not relinquished his IBF title, he would have soon been ordered to defend against the 6’2″ Osleys. This would be a very complex fight for Crawford because he couldn’t count on his long reach to allow him to dominate with the jab like he did against Canelo.

Iglesias has the same range but a stronger jab. If Crawford hadn’t left, he would have had a problem against Iglesias. He is a textbook example of a boogeyman, a guy who is avoided for good reason.

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Boxing

Eddie Hearn warns that Zuffa athletes could lose their world title eligibility

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Image: Eddie Hearn Says Zuffa Fighters Should Lose Access To World Titles

“I think there will be a large split in boxing now,” promoter Matchroom Hearn told the media. “If you go with Zuffa, you’re out of the governing bodies. I think that’s really what it’s going to have to be like.”

Hearn’s comments come at a time when Zuffa Boxing is gaining momentum and gaining attention from fighters and promoters across the sport. The long-term question was whether the events would interact with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO systems, or go in a different direction.

Hearn explained his position.

“If you sign with Zuffa, you can’t win the world championship,” he said. “You can’t have it both ways.”

He pointed to the recent movement to include titleholders and challengers, arguing that fighters who leave the customary route are giving up some of what boxing has historically valued most.

“Legacy will always be the answer,” Hearn said.

This line leads to a real fight under the headlines. Zuffa can offer money, platform power and stern promotion via TKO. Time-honored boxing still offers belts, rankings and the story behind becoming a champion.

Many competitors will try to secure both if possible. Hearn is doubtful whether the balance can be maintained.

Hearn also criticized recent arguments against the Ali Act and said income transparency remains one of the strongest protections for combatants in the current US system.

Whether fans agree with Hearn or not, he touched on something real. Boxing may be heading down two separate paths, and fighters will soon have to decide which is more vital.

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Boxing

Moses Itauma is open to fighting the “legend” KO artist who wants to test his beard

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Moses Itauma open to facing KO artist ‘legend’ who wants to test his chin

Moses Itauma is willing to face the uncompromising heavyweight veteran after his last fight, a methodical fifth-round stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin.

The 21-year-old showed his world-class potential last month, scoring a third-round knockout before stopping the typically tough Franklin with a powerful uppercut.

Itauma has since been named mandatory challenger for the WBO title, putting him in pole position to face the winner of the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois fight at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9.

However, this highly developed talent is ranked No. 1 in the WBA and No. 2 in the WBC, which gives him several options to consider before his next assignment.

WITH Itauma is reportedly expected to return in JulySeveral candidates are already being considered as potential opponents, including the likes of Murat Gassiev and Filip Hrgovic.

As for a potential fight with Deontay Wilder, Itauma said DAZN in preparations for the American’s fight with Derek Chisora, that he would be open to fighting him.

“If he wins, yes. You have to weigh the risk against the reward. What do you get [from fighting] his?

“He is a legend in the sport and I really respect him, but you have to weigh the pros and cons.”

After suffering two knockdowns and beating Chisora ​​by split decision earlier this month, former world champion Wilder is looking for another chance.

I’m talking to ESPNThe 40-year-old said he was not in the mood to avoid potential opponents, including Itauma, who made a huge impression on him against Franklin.

“I’m a heavyweight. All the other characters are heavyweights. Why not? I’m not [dodging] anyone.

“I didn’t know who Moses was, but I saw his last fight with Franklin… What a damn KO. He seems like a potential champion. Why not test him?”

Since their confused encounter, Chisora ​​has demanded an immediate rematch with Wilder, who will likely face an alternate opponent in his next fight.

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Jared Anderson withdraws from May 9 fight with a torn bicep

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Image: Jarrell Miller Claims Jared Anderson Pulled Out of Their September 13th

Ring Magazine reports that Anderson withdrew from his fight with Solomon Dacres after suffering a bicep injury. The 10-round heavyweight bout was scheduled for Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

Anderson (18-1, 15 KO) was looking for another step back after a knockout loss to Martin Bakole in 2024. Instead, the 26-year-old now faces another delay at a bad time in his career.

The fight at Dacres was not a world-class test, but it had value. Anderson needed rounds, activity and a consistent win on a major heavyweight card. Now that’s gone, and the injury gives critics more room to question where his career is headed.

The reaction from boxing fans was fierce, with several responses pointing out Anderson’s injury history and durability. Some questioned whether his body would hold up in the heavyweight division. Others suggested he might have to consider considering the cruiserweight division if physical problems persist.

It may be tough, but it’s the kind of failure that changes the way you view your prospect. Anderson still has talent, but he’s no longer talked about as a pure future heavyweight star. Now he’s trying to prove he can stay vigorous long enough to rebuild.

Moving to Queensberry and fighting in the UK seemed like a desperate attempt to find a novel environment that could boost his confidence. But this bicep injury is a disaster because it adds another year of rust to a psyche that already looked feeble. You won’t rebuild your self-confidence at the gym.

A torn bicep effectively means Jared Anderson’s career will be in frigid storage until the end of 2026. Recovery from this type of surgery usually takes six to nine months before a player can even think about hitting a full-power shot with that hand.

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