Iglesias stops Shishkin to become IBF mandatory challenger at 168

MONTREAL — Osleys Iglesias stopped Vladimir Shishkin by technical knockout late in the eighth round of an IBF super middleweight eliminator Thursday night at the Montreal Casino, earning the mandatory challenger position for the division and positioning himself for a potential title shot against undisputed champion Saul Canelo Alvarez or, if Alvarez loses or is stripped, a top contender such as Terence Crawford.

The southpaw Iglesias, a 27-year-old Cuban based in Germany known for his heavy hands and frequent early stoppages, forced the stoppage after landing a sustained barrage that left Shishkin unable to answer. Referee Michael Griffin halted the fight in the eighth as Shishkin covered up and offered little offense, a conclusion local reports described as necessary to protect the Russian challenger. Ring observers noted that Shishkin had been effective with a defensive, punch-and-retreat approach through much of the opening seven rounds, but Iglesias shifted tactics and found success with looping power shots that eventually overwhelmed him.

Both fighters made weight the day before the bout, checking in under the 168-pound limit. Weigh-in reports listed Iglesias at about 167.6...