11/08/2024
Cuban boxer Osley Iglesias’s power was on full display at the Montreal Casino. Iglesias secured a technical knockout in the fifth round against Ukrainian Petro Ivanov. Iglesias successfully defended his IBO Super Middleweight Championship and sent a clear message about his standing in the division.
Photo Credit: Vincent Ethier/Eye of the Tiger
From the first round, Iglesias set the pace. He entered the fight direct and determined, landing powerful blows to both Ivanov's head and body, as Ivanov attempted to stay in the fight with his jab. However, the Cuban wore him down with uppercuts and left-hand combinations that destabilized the Ukrainian in the second round. Iglesias' pressure didn't let up, and by the third and fourth rounds, Ivanov was already showing signs of wear under the intense punishment.
Osley, who improved his undefeated record to 13-0, explained after the fight that he noticed when Ivanov started to stray from his game plan, and at that moment, he knew the end was only a matter of time. In the fifth round, with Ivanov attempting to turn the fight around, Iglesias found the perfect opening and unleashed a combination that sent the Ukrainian to the canvas. Although Ivanov managed to stand up, the referee decided to stop the fight, deciding that he was no longer fit to continue.
Photo Credit: Vincent Ethier/Eye of the Tiger
"I knew the moment would come. I saw him losing control of his strategy, and I just waited for the final blow," Iglesias said after the fight. Despite Ivanov's objections, whose record now stands at (18-1-2, 13 KOs), his trainers did not contest the decision.
Iglesias dedicated his victory to his family in Cuba, mentioning that it was a special gift for his mother and sister, who are celebrating their birthdays this week. In honor of his mother, he even entered the ring to the music of Mariah Carey, adding an emotional touch to the night.
"I promised my mom that the next time we meet, I’ll be the undisputed champion," he said with emotion.
Photo Credit: Vincent Ethier/Eye of the Tiger
Iglesias is solidifying himself as one of the rising stars in the super middleweight division and continues to aim for greater challenges. A fight against Jaime Munguia was mentioned, but the decisive victory in Montreal was another step toward his goals, and his message to any potential future opponents was clear:
"Osley Iglesias is ready for any challenge."
In the co-main event of the night, Canadian super middleweight Steven Butler defeated Argentina's Fernando Farias in just one round. Butler, coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to Patrice Volny five months ago, scored two quick knockdowns on Farias before the referee stopped the fight.
Photo Credit: Vincent Ethier/Eye of the Tiger
In other notable fights on the card, Belarusian Dzmitry Asanau continued his unbeaten streak with a fifth-round technical knockout over Argentina's Matías Carlos Adrián Rueda. Meanwhile, Colombian Jhon Orobio defeated Italian Jacopo Colli in the first round in a junior welterweight bout, and Canadian Wilkens Mathieu won against Argentina's Marcos Karalitzky in the fourth round of their super middleweight fight.
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