Munguia Declines IBF Title Fight With Osleys Iglesias

“Jaime Munguia rejects IBF world title offer, Osleys Iglesias’ search continues,” said Eye of the Tiger president Camille Estephan today on X.

This marks the second time a leading contender has turned down the opportunity to fight Cuban-born Osleys “The Tornado” Iglesias for the vacant title, which became available after Terence Crawford relinquished the belt following his retirement on December 16, 2025.

Canelo Alvarez was the first to pass, citing recovery from elbow surgery. The IBF then shifted its focus to Munguia, ranked fourth, but that option is now off the table as well. With Munguia declining, the sanctioning body is expected to explore alternatives such as seventh-ranked Pavel Silyagin or tenth-ranked Bruno Surace.

Elsewhere in the division, Hamzah Sheeraz has been ordered to face Diego Pacheco for the vacant WBO title, while Callum Simpson is coming off a recent knockout victory that could affect his immediate availability.

There had been speculation earlier this week that Munguia might agree to face Iglesias for a vacant title, but that scenario always appeared unlikely. The move would have been out of character for the 29-year-old, whose career has largely been built around controlled matchmaking.

Outside of his loss to Canelo Alvarez in 2024, Munguia has rarely taken high-risk fights where he entered as anything other than the favorite. A bout with Iglesias would have represented a sharp departure from that pattern, with Munguia likely cast as the underdog against the unbeaten Cuban.

The IBF title remains a major opportunity for any contender willing to accept the assignment. However, Iglesias’ ability and upside continue to complicate the search, forcing fighters and promoters to weigh the long-term reward against the immediate risk.