IBF Orders Canelo and Iglesias to Fight for the Title

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered Cuban puncher Osleys Iglesias and Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez to face off for the vacant super middleweight world championship. Currently, Iglesias holds the #1 spot in the rankings, while Alvarez is ranked #3.

The title became vacant after Terence Crawford officially announced his retirement from professional boxing on December 17, 2025.

Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs) enters this potential matchup following a unanimous decision loss to Crawford in their September 13 "super-fight" for the undisputed crown. Iglesias (14-0, 13 KOs) is on a formidable streak of eight consecutive stoppages. In 2025, he competed once, delivering a dominant 8th-round knockout against Vladimir Shishkin in an IBF eliminator.