This Thursday will host the highly anticipated unified IBO and IBF world championship, featuring the terrifying Cuban tornado, Osleys Iglesias (14-0, 13 KO), against the Russian mountain contender, Pavel Silyagin (16-0-1, 7 KO).
The action kicks off at 6:30 PM on Punching Grace, with no fewer than 7 fights, including several championships live from the Casino de Montréal.
Before joining us on Mise-o-jeu+, read our experts’ analysis and predictions to know everything about the fights awaiting you!
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Osleys Iglesias
The Tornado Arrives
In the grand finale: two world titles are on the line, between two undefeated boxers – something never seen before at the Casino de Montréal.
“Until now, Iglesias seems invincible, but can he continue to be against a boxer of Silyagin’s level? I’m very eager to find out,” told us British journalist Anson Wainwright from the prestigious Ring Magazine…
Laurent Poulin, from Boxingtown Québec, even predicts a “close fight” between Iglesias and Silyagin, whom he calls “Russia’s best-kept secret,” but eventually, the tide will turn.
“It will be very competitive, but Osleys Iglesias will ultimately KO him in the 10th round,” he ventured to predict.
In Numbers: Could things get tricky if Iglesias doesn’t find that KO in the first 10 rounds?
Experience seems to favor Silyagin, who has completed 10 or 12 rounds eight times… whereas EOTTM’s protégé has only seen the end of a 10th round on one occasion.
Photo: RCC Boxing – Pavel Silyagin
Clash of Hitters
Canadian Olympian Arthur “The Wolf” Biyarslanov (20-0, 16 KO) defends his NABF super-lightweight (140 lb) title against Jimerr “Mortero” Espinosa (17-2-1, 16 KO).
According to the specialized site BoxRec, “The Wolf” Biyarslanov is already among the elite, ranking 8th in the world at super-lightweight…
However, the Mexican “Mortar” lives up to his nickname, because if you go through the entire top-100 of the division, and power is your only standard, Espinosa would join Biyarslanov in the top-10 with his KO percentage of over 94%.
KO percentages of 80% or higher are rare at 140 lb and below. When two fighters with that kind of power face each other… don’t blink!
And despite all that power, Punching Grace columnist Nathan Décarie predicts a judges’ decision victory for Biyarslanov… proving that anything seems possible with this fight!
Photo: Virgine Assaly – Arthur Biyarslanov
A Local Fight
Another NABF championship fight is on the card, this time at lightweight (135 lb). In this case, two Quebecers will compete for the North American title.
In the red corner: Montreal’s Luis Santana (15-0, 7 KO) aims to TAKE his career to the international level.
In the blue corner: Brossard puncher Chann Thonson (18-1, 15 KO) wants to RETURN to the world stage…
Before his only career defeat, Thonson was ranked 3rd in the world by the WBA at lightweight. In contrast, Luis Santana is currently at the peak of his ascent, ranked 31st.
“We tend to forget what Thonson accomplished, since most of his career was outside Quebec. I remember seeing him break an American prospect on Showtime a few years ago,” analyzed Laurent Poulin from Boxingtown Québec, predicting a “close” decision victory for Santana, but only if he’s “in the shape of his life.”
And he’s not the only one watching this fight. When the fight was announced, Quebec’s rising boxing star Wilkens Mathieu commented that it was the most “underrated” fight of the gala…
As Manny Montreal from Talking Boxing so aptly said: “Local fights are my favorites. It’s always a dilemma for me, because they’re the best fights, but also the most heartbreaking…”
This time is no exception, as only one Quebecer will move on to the next level Thursday night.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Luis Santana
No Room for Error for Beaudoin
Also on the card, Témiscouta contender Leïla Beaudoin (13-2, 2 KO) will make her big return after her valiant performance last December against unified world champion Alycia Baumgardner.
Remember, her historic 12-round, 3-minute fight was watched by over 14 million viewers on Netflix. It’s the second most-viewed fight in women’s boxing history.
So we can expect many new fans to follow her Thursday fight against former world champion Victoria Bustos (26-9-1) on Punching Grace and DAZN platforms.
But that’s not the only added pressure on the Beaudoin…
According to the Journal de Montréal, a convincing win for Beaudoin could propel her directly into a second world championship fight as early as April!
In other words, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
And that goes for the audience too! Join Mise-o-jeu+ this Thursday to make your predictions and triumph with your champions!
Photo: MVP – Alycia Baumgardner and Leïla Beaudoin
