Osleys Iglesias (proper) added to his already-intimidating status with a second-round stoppage of Sena Agbeko on Aug. 17. (Photograph by Vincent Ethier)
A yr in the past, Osleys Iglesias was an unknown Cuban fighter who lived in Germany. Those that did know him believed in his potential, however he hadn’t had the chance to step out of the shadows.
Quick-forward to as we speak, and that’s not the case. Iglesias signed with Montreal-based promoter Camille Estephan’s Eye of The Tiger earlier this yr.
Iglesias has been saved lively since then. He has fought thrice in 5 months, unheard-of by as we speak’s requirements, and the outcomes have been spectacular, as has his meteoric rise. Iglesias (12-0, 11 knockouts) is now ranked No. 3 at tremendous middleweight by The Ring and within the high 15 by two of the 4 sanctioning our bodies. The 26-year-old southpaw additionally holds the lesser-regarded IBO title.
Whereas some fighters present nerves of their debut, whether or not it’s within the execs or with a brand new crew, it has not been that manner for Iglesias.
His EOTT kickoff got here in March in opposition to Marcelo Coceres, a sturdy Argentine who gave then-WBO tremendous middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders every kind of issues and was forward on one of many scorecards earlier than getting knocked out within the eleventh spherical.
Coceres had additionally shared a hoop with handful of different high fighters – dropping, sure, however giving all of them powerful outings, together with Edgar Berlanga (L UD 10), Erik Bazinyan (L UD 10), Meiirim Nursultanov (L UD 10) and rising power Diego Pacheco (L KO 9).
Iglesias wanted simply over two minutes to blow by way of Coceres, dropping and stopping him with a left hook.
“I felt happy with that efficiency,” he stated. “I’m the boxer who was the quickest [to stop him] in his skilled profession. [He has been] in good fights and virtually knocked out Berlanga.”
The character of the win led to a fast turnaround, and Iglesias was matched with once-beaten Evgeny Shvedenko in June. The powerful Russian had been anticipated to place up stern resistance. He had solely tasted defeat in opposition to William Scull in an IBF eliminator and took Scull the total 12 rounds.
This time, Iglesias brutalized Shvedenko with one of the devastating first-round knockouts of this or another yr.
On l’appelle la Tornade
Le Okay.-O. au 1er spherical d’Osleys Iglesias sur Evgeny Shvedenko nous donne encore des frissons…
—
We name him the TwisterThe primary spherical KO of Osleys Iglesias over Evgeny Shvedenko nonetheless give us chills…#ButlerVolny | #EottmArmy pic.twitter.com/i0HqeRu4E8
— Eye of the Tiger (@eottm_boxing) June 7, 2024
“I’m very comfortable that I used to be in a position to supply the followers in Canada two such spectacular knockouts,” he stated. “Shvedenko is an effective boxer with superb protection.
“I’m all of the extra happy that the techniques I rehearsed with my coach, Georg Bramowski, labored out so nicely. You possibly can’t power the knockout. I wish to field nicely after which constantly exploit each hole in my opponent’s recreation.”
Agbeko had been stopped by David Morrell in two rounds final December, though the Ghanaian was nonetheless on his toes when the ref stepped in. It left little margin for error by way of outdoing that, however that’s precisely what Iglesias did. He put Agbeko down within the opening spherical – the primary knockdown he had suffered his profession.
Así se vio y oyó desde ringside el KO de Osleys Iglesias a Sena Agbeko
@trboxeo #ESPNKnockOut #MbilliDerevyanchenko pic.twitter.com/ZM99x8dwne
— ESPN KnockOut (@ESPNKnockOut) August 18, 2024
Whereas Agbeko made it out of the primary spherical, it was a mere keep of execution and he was stopped within the second. The top got here 27 seconds faster, the truth is, than it did in opposition to Morrell. Iglesias later stated that wasn’t on his thoughts, but it surely definitely gave the impression to be. Message despatched.
Watching these three fights, which have totaled 4 rounds of motion, you may’t assist however surprise how Eye of The Tiger will be capable to safe future opponents for its fighter.
“It’s been tough because the starting,” stated Estephan. “Folks know him. It’s very tough to get opponents. You’ve bought to get the {dollars} out, as a result of it’s not a picnic.
“We wish to fast-track him and put him ready to be a compulsory, as a result of he won’t ever be invited.”
Iglesias-Agbeko befell on the undercard of the scrap between promotional stablemate Christian Mbilli vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko. He received’t play second fiddle to anybody for lengthy.
In reality, Iglesias is subsequent tabbed to headline his personal present in Montreal on November 7.
In addition to exercise enjoying a key roll in a fighter’s growth, it additionally helps to maintain them within the public’s thoughts.
You solely want to think about Morrell. He beforehand seemed sensational at tremendous middleweight, however he’s been combating simply twice a yr since debuting in 2019. So he’s by no means been in a position to construct on that momentum.
Iglesias is sizzling, and he’ll attempt to preserve issues rolling. The query now could be, who will reply the decision to face him within the fall? There will probably be a really small queue of prepared members, that’s for positive.
Questions and/or feedback might be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
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