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Canelo is also coming off a clear loss to Crawford, a fight that stripped away any appetite for another high-risk style contrast so soon. Even with a healthy elbow, it is hard to believe Alvarez would have taken the fight.
There is a difference between getting outboxed by a 38 year old Crawford in a cautious fight and getting hit by an aggressive southpaw who carries power in both hands. That second option is what Alvarez would have faced against the 27 year old Iglesias.
That fight would not have looked anything like the Crawford bout. It would not have been twelve rounds of movement with occasional punch bursts. Iglesias presses. He throws with intent. He does not wait. He looks to break opponents down, not outmaneuver them.
The question now is how long it takes before someone agrees to step in with him. The bigger names at super middleweight. Hamzah Sheeraz. Jaime Munguia. Edgar Berlanga. Caleb Plant. None are expected to volunteer, and none appear eager to accept that type of risk.
Iglesias has developed a reputation as the division’s problem fight. That usually leads to a lesser known opponent getting the call. His promoter, Camille Estephan, has pushed for a Munguia fight, but Munguia appears to be looking elsewhere for a different opportunity.
That leaves an unfamiliar group of names. Simon Zachenhuber. William Scull. Bruno Surace. None would help Iglesias build a profile or momentum, but that is often the price paid when the belt is available, and nobody wants the risk.
And at some point, someone always takes the risk. Being elevated to IBF champion without beating a recognized name would only limit what Iglesias can prove. Winning a belt that way raises questions, and that is the worst way to start a reign.
