Thursday night marked a significant event in the boxing calendar, as Osleys ‘El Tornado’ Iglesias showcased his formidable talents at the Casino de Montreal. The IBO super-middleweight champion entered the ring undefeated, boasting a record of 13 wins, 12 of which came by knockout. In a fiercely contested bout against previously undefeated Ukrainian contender Petro Ivanov, Iglesias further solidified his status as a rising force in the boxing world with a decisive fifth-round knockout.
From the outset, Iglesias dominated the fight with his superior technical skills and strategic maneuvering. Standing at 6’2″, the Cuban southpaw effectively utilized his reach advantage, landing significant shots while maintaining distance from Ivanov’s aggressive advances. Despite Ivanov’s attempts to close the gap and unleash his own punches, he was often met with a barrage of counterstrikes, particularly hard right hooks and left hands that echoed through the arena.
Ivanov, who entered the fight with an impressive record of 18 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws, fought valiantly but struggled to find his rhythm against Iglesias. His pursuit of landing solid hits was met with resistance as Iglesias consistently exploited his reach. While moments of success surfaced for Ivanov, they were fleeting, largely overshadowed by the continuation of Iglesias’s punishing combinations.
As rounds progressed, Ivanov seemed to absorb an alarming amount of punishment. Round three proved particularly pivotal as Iglesias landed a stunning right uppercut that visibly shook Ivanov and led to a flurry of follow-up strikes. Despite his resilience, the cumulative effect of these blows took a toll, leaving Ivanov with a bloody nose and a rapidly diminishing stamina.
By the fifth round, the intense pressure applied by Iglesias manifested into a critical moment that changed the course of the fight. After landing a devastating right-left combo, Ivanov fell to the canvas, visibly dazed. Though he made it back to his feet just shy of the ten-count, the referee, recognizing the potential for further harm, wisely chose to halt the fight.
This bout not only extended Iglesias’s unblemished record but also served as a declaration to the super-middleweight division that he is a serious contender. With four knockout victories in just this year alone, Iglesias has become a name to watch as competition heightens. His performance highlights a potent combination of knockout power and refined boxing technique, positioning him as a potential favorite against any of the remaining top contenders in the division.
The departure of fighters like David Benavidez and David Morrell to light heavyweight has opened a pathway for new champions to emerge in super middleweight. Given what he displayed in the ring, Iglesias may very well be at the forefront of this new era, and his knockout victory over Ivanov will likely remain a benchmark for future opponents as he continues his ascent in professional boxing.