Who Will Combat Osleys Iglesias For The Vacant IBF Title

What has slowed the process is refusal.

The IBF made inquiries to Canelo Alvarez, who declined, citing recovery from elbow surgery. Jaime Munguia also passed on the opportunity. Neither decision violates IBF rules, but both remove name value from the title picture and leave Iglesias waiting.

That has pushed attention down the rankings.

The next likely call is expected to go to Pavel Silyagin, currently ranked seventh by the IBF. Silyagin has not yet been confirmed, but he is positioned as the highest available contender who has not already declined or priced himself out.

Iglesias earned this position the hard way. In September 2025, he stopped Vladimir Shishkin in the eighth round of an IBF eliminator. It was a one-sided fight that removed any doubt about his standing. Since then, no one ranked above him has stepped forward.

For now, the IBF’s problem is not identifying a champion. It is finding someone willing to share the ring with him.

The southpaw Iglesias is called by some as the most avoided fighter in the 168 lb division. Fighters had already been ignoring him long before Canelo and Munguia rejected a fight against him. His punching power is what may be what causes fighters to steer clear of him. Iglesias is a true two fisted puncher, and his right hand arguably better than his left. Usually, it’s the opposite way around for a southpaw.