The new era of the super-middleweight division is about to get underway, with each of the fragmented world titles expected to be in new hands by May.
Terence Crawford made history when he brought the long reign of Canelo Alvarez to an end back in September, becoming just the second three-weight undisputed champion in history, 87 years after Henry Armstrong completed the feat.
However, ‘Bud’ retired from the sport three months later – leaving a potential rematch against Canelo behind – and each of his four belts in the 168lb division suddenly became up for grabs.
First, Jose Armando Resendiz was upgraded from WBA Interim world champion to full titleholder, having trumped Caleb Plant in one of the upsets of the year to claim the interim strap last May.
Last month, another interim champion received the call they were waiting for, as the WBC installed Cameroon-born Christian Mbilli as their new world champion, possibly teeing up an immediate title shot for Canelo upon his return.
However, the super-middleweight that British fight fans have got behind is Slough’s Hamzah Sheeraz, who obliterated Edgar Berlanga on his 168lb debut in July in the US. Much to their delight, the 26-year-old is poised to fight for the vacant WBO strap in May, against 38-year-old German Alem Begic.
As a result, only the IBF world title remained, but today RCC Promotions confirmed that Pavel Silyagin will collide with Osleys Iglesias, in a clash to determine the IBF’s new super-middleweight world champion, on Thursday, April 9, in Montreal, Canada.
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Both Silyagin and Iglesias are undefeated thus far in their professional careers, but it is Iglesias that will enter the contest as the favourite – with the Cuban deemed by many to be the bogeyman of the super-middleweight scene. Canelo had previously been called to fight for the vacant belt, but pulled out while recovering from an injury.
