SUPER-middleweight Mark Jeffers could secure a career-defining opportunity this summer.
The number 7 IBF super-middleweight world title contender is in the running to face IBO champion Osleys Iglesias, 13-0 (12 KOs). Jeffers, 27, remains unbeaten in 20 fights and competed as recently as Sunday on the Whittaker-Cameron 2 undercard in Birmingham, securing a second-round stoppage win against Ricardo Lara.
Regarded as one of Britain’s top super-middleweight talents, Jeffers is eager to test himself against the world’s elite. Iglesias, ranked number 4 by the IBF—three spots above Jeffers—and number 3 by the WBC, presents a formidable challenge. Speaking to Boxing News earlier today, Jeffers says he’s “praying” the fight materialises, potentially landing on July 12 in New York as part of the stacked Shakur Stevenson-William Zepeda undercard.
“On Saturday [my promoter] Ben Shalom come over to me and said I’d been offered a big fight. I was fighting on Sunday so he said we’ll have a chat about it after you’ve boxed. Then [manager] Kev Maree sent a message to me on Monday saying what I’d been offered – IBO world title. He said we’ll have a meeting on Tuesday and I said can we get a meeting tonight and then I accepted it straight away. Spoke to [coaches] Mick (Jennings) and Dave (Jennings). We all had a meeting on Monday night as soon as I found out and I said get back to them as soon as you can and accept the fight. That was that.”
Iglesias, 27, a 6-foot-2½, 168-pound southpaw from Cuba now based in Berlin, Germany, is an aggressive force in the ring. He is widely regarded as a leading contender poised to challenge the super-middleweight elite, where Canelo Alvarez currently reigns. The unified world champion aims to reclaim undisputed supremacy for an unprecedented second time on May 3, facing IBF champion and Iglesias’s compatriot William Scull in Riyadh.
Jeffers acknowledges the challenge but is confident in his ability to make a significant impact on the global stage.
“It’s a fight I’ll win,” he predicted. “He’s obviously gonna be good, he’s IBO world champion but I believe I’m the best super-middleweight. You’ve gotta beat the best and that’s what I’ll do July 12 if this fight can get made. I’m praying it comes off.
“This is the dream, to fight in New York for a world title. Doesn’t get any bigger than that. I was never gonna say no to it so I’m praying it can get made.”
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