Osleys Iglesias proclaimed the undisputed super -middleweight champion Terence Crawford and the former king of the division, Canelo Alvarez, this week on social media.
Crawford’s new problem: a hungry Cuban with power
“I’m ready for Canelo and for Crawford! Come here! ‘ said Osleys Iglesias on X and proclaimed Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez.
The unbeaten IBF compulsory Iglesias (14-0, 13 COs) want his title against the new champion, Crawford, and if not him, Canelo. Last month, IBO 168-Pond Champion Iglesias Vladimir Shishikin knocked out in the eighth round in an IBF title Eliminator in Montreal, Canada.
The victory for the Cuban Southpaw Osleys has made him the new compulsory for the title Crawford now holds. He did not say what he plans to do, but the IBF will probably order him to defend it against Iglesias soon.
It is understandable that the highly assessed Iglesias wants his compulsory title on the Belt Crawford (38). He made no mention that he wanted to defend them against the top contenders on Super Middleheight. Who can blame him?
The Mount Rushmore Dream is now running through Iglesias
The IBF title should now feel like a heavy burden to Crawford after receiving this message from Osleys Iglesias. He now knows that he cannot hold on to the belt for superficial purposes to use it as a decoration to give himself a sense of prestige.
If Crawford wants to hold on to the IBF band, he will have to face Iglesias and possibly comply with his end. If he loses against Osleys, he can forget his dreams of sitting on the Mount Rushmore or Boxing between the greats of all time. That IBF belt is not jewels.
The thing is, if Terence Iglesias is avoided, it is also a sign that he does not belong because he will have shown a failure of nerves.
– Osleys Iglesias Estrada (@osleysiglesias) October 7, 2025
Crawford surrounded by sharks at 168
With many younger, powerful and hungry contenders such as Cuban Osleys Iglesias and Christian Mbilli breathing Crawford’s neck, Why would He face them? What Crawford has to do is to evacuate his IBF belt, along with his other three, at the super -middle weight if he does not intend to defend them against the contenders.
Those two sharks would feed on the outdated Crawford, who watched his age in just a narrow 12-round decision on Alvarez in September. Both looked like shells of their former self. The Southpaw Iglesias’ one-time power, long reach and evil right hook would be fatal to 38-year-old Crawford if he dared to fight against him.
Bud is believed to be choosing to move to 160 to try to capture one or more of the titles to become a world champion of six divisions. If he does, the IBF and other sanction bodies Crawford will have to start stripping of its belts one by one at Super Middleweight.
Bud’s strategy: Hold titles to attract Canelo back?
Crawford’s probable rationale to hold on to its IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles at 168 is to use it for bait to lure Canelo back for a rematch. Omaha’s native, Nebraska, earns a massive $ 50 million wallet in his fight against Canelo on September 13.
Terence is not going to get the kind of money fighting against someone other than David Banavidez, which he has said he has no interest to fight. If Canelo does not take the re -broadcast, which does not appear to do so, Crawford will have to defend against Osleys Iglesias Pronto. He can’t just sit with the others on the IBF belt as he did with the WBA 154-Pond title, which he recently vacated after not defending it for 13 months.
The IBF title that Crawford (42-0, 31 costs) now owns at 168 never Was a mandatory defense of the band since Canelo captured the belt against Caleb plant on November 6, 2021. The IBF title has changed hands twice over the past four years, without any compulsory defense.
Canelo made four successful defense of the IBF band before being stripped of the title in July 2024 for his failure to defend it against William Scull. The IBF then raised Scull to the new champion and then lost the title earlier this year against Alvarez on May 3. Canelo’s defense of the IBF belt against Crawford on September 13 was voluntary.
Last updated on 10/08/2025
