Osleys Iglesias: Who Are The Top Five Potential Opponents?

What is next for Osleys Iglesias after stopping Oliver Zaren on Thursday night in Canada?

Iglesias (16-0, 15 KOs) has been a revelation over the past few years. He won the IBF super middleweight title earlier this year, but he has also emerged by beating quality, high-risk, low-reward contenders with dominant knockouts. Iglesias won the interim title, then the outright belt, and has now made a title defense. In a short period of time, he has emerged as one of the more promising future pound-for-pound fighters, with few vulnerabilities and a lot of versatility.

So let’s speculate who could be next?

Jacob Bank-Janibek Alimkhanuly Winner

Bank will face the former unified middleweight champion for the title Hamzah Sheeraz recently vacated. Both are quality fighters who need a belt and might not be coveted by the sport’s biggest names. Throw the winner in with Iglesias and make a good fight… please?

Canelo Alvarez vs. Christian Mbilli Winner

The winner of this bout would be a fellow belt holder. Alvarez is the biggest name in the sport, and if Mbilli wins (and doesn’t seek a rematch with Alvarez), he shares the same promoter as Iglesias (Eye of the Tiger). So, in theory, an Mbilli fight is feasible, whereas a fight with Canelo would be more difficult to make.

Bektemir Melikuziev

Melikuziev deserves a title after beating Darius Fulghum. He is mandatory for one of the other sanctioning bodies, but if something odd occurs, why not let Melikuziev roll the dice against Iglesias? He has a strong amateur pedigree and would make for an interesting foe.

Kevin Lele Sadjo

Currently, Sadjo is the highest-ranked IBF contender. Sadjo gave Diego Pacheco an honest fight and would present a pressure style that would answer questions about how Iglesias handles that type of pressure.

Jaime Munguia 

Munguia has a horrible track record of facing the best opposition out. That said, he is the WBA super middleweight champ. He has a mandatory with Bektemir Melikuziev, but if that doesn’t happen, Iglesias would be a suitable opponent.

Lucas Ketelle

Lucas Ketelle is a boxing writer and podcaster who has appeared on various platforms throughout his career.

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