Osleys Iglesias vs Canelo Alvarez: Malignaggi says IBF champion is ‘too good and not popular enough’

Paulie Malignaggi believes Osleys Iglesias vs Canelo Alvarez is an unlikely next fight because the unbeaten IBF champion is “too good and not popular enough” to be chosen by the Mexican.

The former world champion’s assessment follows Alvarez’s unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli in Riyadh on Saturday 31 October. Canelo regained the WBC super-middleweight title, making a meeting with Iglesias a potential unification contest.

Alvarez won 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112 to improve his record to 64-3-2, while Mbilli suffered his first professional defeat and fell to 29-1-1. Our Canelo vs Mbilli result report covers the fight.

Osleys Iglesias vs Canelo Alvarez: why Malignaggi doubts the fight

Speaking to Boxing King Media, in comments reported by Boxing News 24, Malignaggi argued that Iglesias’ ability could work against him when Canelo considers his options.

“I think at the moment [Iglesias] is probably too good and not popular enough.”

He compared the Cuban’s position with those of David Benavidez and David Morrell, neither of whom faced Alvarez during his undisputed super-middleweight reign.

Malignaggi’s argument is that a dangerous opponent needs sufficient commercial appeal to make the risk attractive. That is his assessment of the matchmaking, rather than confirmation that Alvarez has rejected an offer to face Iglesias.

Iglesias has 15 stoppages from 16 victories

Iglesias has won all 16 of his professional fights, with 15 victories inside the distance, according to Max Boxing’s updated record.

The southpaw won the vacant IBF belt in April when Pavel Silyagin’s corner stopped their contest after eight rounds. He then made his first defence against Oliver Zaren on 8 October, dropping the Dane twice in the sixth before securing a seventh-round stoppage.

That victory over Zaren preserved both his unbeaten record and his position among the division’s champions. A fight with Alvarez would offer the opportunity to add the WBC belt to his IBF title.

Iglesias had already made his intentions clear before Canelo faced Mbilli. “Whoever wins though, I want to fight him,” he told The Ring.

Lester Martinez emerges in Malignaggi’s assessment

Malignaggi considers WBC interim champion Lester Martinez a more realistic opponent, arguing that the Guatemalan’s performances have revealed openings Alvarez could exploit.

“He’s continued to win, but has looked a little bit flawed,” Malignaggi said.

Martinez fought Mbilli to a split draw on the Canelo-Crawford undercard in September 2025. That result gives him a direct comparison with Alvarez’s latest opponent, although Malignaggi’s assessment remains a prediction rather than an announced match.

Canelo still wants a Terence Crawford rematch

Alvarez’s own public preference is another meeting with Terence Crawford, who beat him in September 2025 before retiring that December.

“To be honest, we’d love to have that rematch,” Alvarez told Fight Hub TV after beating Mbilli, in comments reported by The Ring.

The same report identifies Iglesias, Martinez and Hamzah Sheeraz as possible opponents. It does not announce an agreement with any of them.

Elsewhere in the division, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jacob Bank will contest the vacant WBO title on 23 January 2027. That bout will establish another champion at 168lb, while Iglesias continues to seek the unification opportunity he has called for.