IF ever there was a performance that exemplified what a fighter is all about, it was Osleys Iglesias’ one-round dismissal of Evgeny Shvedenko in 2024. After a couple of feeling-out minutes, Iglesias dropped a seemingly innocuous right hook around the side of the head that floored the well-travelled Russian.
To merely call it a flooring would be an injustice. The Chekhov man twitched on his back, arms flailing, believing he was still in a fight, still pitching, even though a bemused and anxious referee was hovering on his knees waiting to waive the count.
When he came round and Iglesias was given license to celebrate, Shvedenko and everyone in attendance realised that another highlight reel moment had been created by one of the rising stars of the super-middleweight division. On September 4, in Montreal, ‘El Tornado’ returns against former world title challenger Vladimir Shishkin.
After moving from the world of stockbroking to boxing, many of promoter Camille Estephan’s previous offerings have been broadcast live on ESPN. The latest of these welcome Thursday night shows from the Canadian circuit goes out on the website Punching Grace, as the pinch of ESPN’s boxing back out continues to be felt far and wide.
Iglesias is one of the premium prospects competing under the Eye Of The Tiger banner. As the reigning IBO champion, he is more of a top-tier contender, amassing a stellar 13-0 (12 KOs) slate that looks in real time every bit as impressive as it reads on the screen.
The aforementioned Shvedenko shelling came in the middle of a run of fights that have helped propel Iglesias up the rankings, turning heads in and out of the ring.
A one-round blast of Marcelo Coceres in March 2024 was a statement win. Despite a bundle of losses on the Argentine’s record, he had previously given Billy Joe Saunders plenty of problems and later dropped Edgar Berlanga in their 2021 clash.
Four months before Iglesias simply wiped him out, Coceres extended Diego Pacheco into the ninth. Speaking of going rounds, Shvedenko (yes, him again), who was removed in under three minutes, had only one prior loss when he arrived in Canada. A 12-round defeat to William Scull in Germany.
Competing with considerably less explosivity than his Cuban compatriot Iglesias, it’s at the mention of Scull that we can pivot over to the opponent on Thursday, Vladimir Shishkin, 16-1 (10 KOs).
The Florida-based Russian’s most memorable night thus far wasn’t very memorable at all. In fact, it was a dire 36 minutes where he and Scull danced, parried, shimmied and occasionally punched, leading to Scull’s acquisition of the IBF title, securing his undisputed fight with Canelo.
After the fight, Shishkin’s team filed a complaint with the German Boxing Commission over the terms of the Scull fight. The referee and the three judges caught some stray shots from Vlad and Co., to no avail. The result stood, everybody moved on and here we are in the Montreal Casino.
Shishkin, 34, holds a good points win over a faded version of Jose Uzcategui in 2022. These two have a common opponent in Sena Agbeko, who went the full 10 with Shishkin (widely outpointed), only to be blasted out in two rounds by Iglesias three years later.
Three years more wear and tear on Agbeko provides some context, but the destructive performances speak for themselves. One man outboxes and shuts down; the other leaves foes convulsing on the canvas, sparking high concern.
Iglesias is explosive. Shishkin is functional. A solid jab, good power, able to go rounds. Everything he does is fine and dandy. It doesn’t catch the breath, however. Bobbing along, round after round, was the problem in the Scull fight, letting similar-style rounds slip by. It’s hard to see Iglesias allowing that kind of battle to unfold here, against a visitor whose style is stable and consistent yet unspectacular.
Speaking of styles, the stylistic comparison to David Morrell (exciting, heavy-handed Cuban southpaw) is valid so far. Both left-handers, both fast and furious, both like to give the crowd a night out. Essentially, this unrelated dynamic duo are part of the new breed of Cubans who don’t play with their food or run away from it; they delight in firing up the spit roast and digesting swiftly.
Chewing Shishkin up in a few rounds would be a bold shout across the bows of the 168-pound division. Iglesias is a fully signed-up member of the “who needs him” club already and anything newsworthy this weekend will only further renew his membership.
Osleys Iglesias vs. Vladimir Shishkin Fight Prediction
It’s a shame that this one isn’t being broadcast on ESPN, although anyone who navigates their way over to the correct website will be in for something special, I would wager.
While Shishkin has proven himself to be a solid, capable world-level operator, Iglesias is the man on a roll. The impetus and career momentum are very much with the Cuban.
Shishkin’s most notable moment is a narrow, contested defeat that left him disappointed and demotivated. Osleys, meanwhile, is in the attention business, producing performances that leave no doubt at all about his capabilities.
If you want to get to world title level, you need to take hard matches. This is a statement of intent for both. There can be no Scull repeat here. Shishkin needs to back himself and throw more shots to win on away soil.
I’m wavering between a points win or a late stoppage for Iglesias. It’s his fight to lose. Shishkin has distance experience and getting past the first half of the fight is imperative for his success.
Iglesias went the 12 rounds once before, against cagey old veteran Isaac Chilemba (of course), so he can last the pace, albeit on his own terms against one as negative as Chilemba. I’ll back him to get the job done over the distance here. He will likely need to show different wrinkles in his game if his opponent refuses to fold.
Osleys Iglesias vs. Vladimir Shishkin Undercard
With Wilkens Mathieu now featuring in co-main event slots, the following pack of EOTT fighters are looking to grab their own standout displays and follow him. Dzmitry ‘The Wasp’ Asanau looks like a good prospect. He takes on 27-0-1 Frenchman Laid Douadi, who has been linked with a Maxi Hughes European title fight of late.
Local hope Avery ‘The Future’ Duval, 13-0-1, also features, alongside Colombian puncher Jhon Orobio, French ‘Soldier’ Moreno Fendero, who looks a real potential star at super-middleweight as well as Olympic bronze medallist, current 3-0 pro, Wyatt Sandford.
