Yesterday, Osleys Iglesias took center stage at the Montreal Casino as he was trying to defend his IBO World Super Middleweight title in a thrilling clash against Petro Ivanov.
The Cuban southpaw started off strong, using his reach and power to push Ivanov back throughout the opening rounds. By the third round, Iglesias was in full control, landing sharp uppercuts that bloodied Ivanov's nose. Despite Ivanov’s attempt to rally in the fourth with a solid right hand, it wasn't enough to turn the tide. In the fifth, Iglesias unleashed a powerful combination, culminating in a right uppercut followed by a left that sent Ivanov to the canvas. Although Ivanov managed to beat the count, referee Junior Padulo decided he’d seen enough, waving off the fight at 0:40 of the round.
In the co-main event, Canadian Steven "Bang Bang" Butler faced off against Fernando Farias in a super middleweight contest. Butler wasted no time, launching a barrage of punches that overwhelmed Farias in the first round. A thunderous right hand sent Farias to the canvas, and though he beat the count, referee Martin Forest decided to call it off, securing a quick victory for Butler.
Light heavyweight Wilkens Mathieu kept his unbeaten record intact with a decisive stoppage win over Marcos "El Comandante" Karalitzky. Mathieu showcased his power with relentless body shots that wore down Karalitzky, who was visibly hurt by the third round. In the fourth, Mathieu's relentless attack culminated in a body shot that floored Karalitzky, forcing his corner to throw in the towel just as the round ended.
Another exciting bout saw 2021 Olympian Dzmitri "The Wasp" Asanau dominate Matias Rueda for the vacant WBC Continental Americas title. Asanau controlled the fight from the start with his superior reach and aggressive combinations. Despite Rueda’s efforts to stay in the fight, blood pouring from cuts on both his eyebrows made it a brutal contest. In the fifth round, a flurry of unanswered punches from Asanau prompted the referee to halt the action, handing Asanau another impressive win.
Jhon "El Tigre" Orobio delivered a stunning performance, dispatching Jacopo "The Swing Boy" Colli in just over a minute. Orobio wasted no time, dropping Colli twice with powerful shots to the head. After the second knockdown, the referee wisely ended the fight, preserving Orobio's perfect knockout streak.
Image Credit: Eye of the Tiger