By Amílcar Barnett-
For years now, Cuban boxers have faced critical reviews of their performances. Pundits cited an over-reliance on technical boxing, defense, footwork, and an unwillingness to look for knockouts. However, recently, Cuban fighters like David Morrell Jr. and now, IBO world 168-pound champion, Osleys ‘El Tornado’ Iglesias have drastically altered the nagative narratives around the “boring”
Cuban boxer.
In a thrilling display of boxing prowess, Iglesias solidified his status as a rising star in the super-middleweight division with a decisive fifth-round knockout of Ukrainian opponent Petro Ivanov at Montreal’s Casino de Montreal. This victory improves Iglesias’s record to 13-0, with an impressive 12 knockouts under his belt, further enhancing his reputation as a knockout artist and a formidable opponent in the ring.
As the fight progressed, it became evident that Iglesias possessed a distinct advantage. Standing at 6’2”, his lanky southpaw stance allowed him to deliver searing right hooks and left hands that consistently found their mark on Ivanov. Despite Ivanov’s commendable effort to crowd Iglesias and land punches, he often met resistance, failing to bypass Iglesias’s effective jabbing technique. After sustaining a powerful right uppercut in the third round, which visibly shaken him, Ivanov seemed to be on the back foot for much of the bout. The blood flowing from his nose signaled the toll that Iglesias’s strikes were taking, illustrating a growing disparity in their fighting effectiveness.
Ivanov’s strategy revolved around aggression and close-quarters combat, but his success in landing clean shots was minimal. The fight showcased the classic clash of styles—where Iglesias’s boxing finesse and power neatly countered Ivanov’s attempts to land punches from the inside. As the match wore on, it was clear that Ivanov, while skilled, could not handle the combination of Iglesias’s reach and precision.
By the fifth round, fatigue appeared to weigh heavily on Ivanov. The pivotal moment came with a perfectly executed right-left combination from Iglesias that sent Ivanov crashing to the canvas. Though he rose quickly with the intention of continuing, the referee, after taking a measured look at his condition, halted the fight when it became apparent that Ivanov had taken enough punishment.
This fight not only showcased Iglesias’s capabilities but also positioned him as a likely contender against the upper echelon of the super-middleweight rankings, especially in light of David Benavidez and David Morrell’s movements to the light heavyweight division. With the confidence of having scored four knockouts in a single year, Iglesias is making a compelling case to be considered one of the division’s top threats.
His blend of skill, power, and strategic acumen suggests that he may very well be the boxer to watch in upcoming fights. As the boxing community contemplates potential matchups, Iglesias has undoubtedly garnered attention, and one can only anticipate how he will continue to evolve in this fiercely competitive landscape.
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