Osleys Iglesias Dominates and Stops Vladimir Shishkin in Montreal

In a fight framed as an IBF 168-pound eliminator, Osleys Iglesias scored his eighth straight knockout, improving to 14-0 (13 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of brave but out-gunned Vladimir Shishkin on an Eye of the Tiger promotion at the Montreal Casino.

Iglesias was well ahead on the scorecards when he staggered Shishkin with a straight left, knocking him into the ropes, and then followed up with a barrage of punches that forced referee Mike Griffin to intervene. The official time was 1:28 of round eight. The Detroit-based 34-year-old Shishkin, who had Sugar Hill Steward in his corner, declined to 16-2. A longtime sparring partner of Artur Beterbiev, his lone previous setback before tonight was a controversial loss on points to Tom and Jerry fighter William Scull.

Iglesias was a member of the Cuban National Team at the tender age of 15. He finished his amateur career on a 16-2 run interrupted by back-to-back defeats to the brilliant Arlen Lopez, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. His final amateur fight was in Germany where he now resides but this was his fifth straight fight in Quebec.

Iglesias and his stablemate Christian Mbilli both hope to land a fight with Canelo Alvarez. Mbilli opposes Guatemala’s Lester Martinez in Las Vegas on Sept. 13 in another 168-pound eliminator (WBC).

Other Bouts of Note

In the semi-wind-up, a lightweight affair slated for 10, two-time Olympian Dzmitry Asanau (11-0, 6 KOs) blew away French import Laid Douadi who was counted at the 3:00 mark of round three. Asanau decked Douadi with a body punch in the second round and it was the same punch that brought the match to a conclusion,

A Belarus native now residing in Dubai, Asanau, a 50/1 favorite, was making his third straight start at this venue. It was the North American debut for the feather-fisted Douadi (27-1-1) who never landed a meaningful punch.

Canadian lightweight prospect Avery Martin Duval improved to 14-1 (8 KOs) with a fifth-round stoppage of Guadalajara’s Luis Campos (11-2). After four relatively uneventful rounds, Duval put Campos on canvas three times to earn the stoppage. It was the first 10-rounder for both combatants.

Photo credit: Vincent Ethier / Eye of the Tiger

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