‘The Promise’ Documentary Reveals Osleys Iglesias’ Desire to Fight Christian Mbilli

“My uncle lived in Germany,” said Iglesias. “I also had a friend who unfortunately passed away. God rest his soul. They helped me a lot.” The 6’ 3” southpaw would build a perfect 8-0 record ahead of securing a fourth-round knockout against the undefeated Artur Reis at the little-known Maritim Hotel in Magdeburg, Germany, on October 7, 2023. The following year, Iglesias would link up with Eye of the Tiger, producing four straight early stoppage victories.

Moving ahead of the compelling storyline behind the inform Iglesias, the documentary immediately looks to the future. Who does he want to fight next? A desire to face his Eye of the Tiger Management stablemate Christian Mbilli, who sits two places above him in the WBC rankings, is revealed. Iglesias’s mother, who plays an ever-present role in the film, sharply cuts into it during a video call to her son, confidently announcing, “Mbilli doesn’t scare me! Even I could beat Mbilli.” Iglesias responds with laughter in an apparent nod to who is in their crosshairs. “All those in front of me,” Iglesias said as the film opened up the possibility of a clash with his stablemate. “There is [Diego] Pacheco who is around the same spots in the rankings. Mbilli, Mbilli. I’m not going to run after him, but for now, he’s slightly in front of me in the rankings.”

Labeled the “Boogeyman” by his promoter Camille Estephan, he’s made it quite clear that he would prefer Mbilli and Iglesias to win world titles in separate organizations before putting two of his most valuable fighters up against each other. However, with Mbilli struggling to lure the likes of Diego Pacheco or Kevin Lele Sadjo to Quebec for a world title eliminator, Estephan’s hand could be forced at a time when Iglesias’s talent is higher than his profile suggests. The Eye of the Tiger-funded documentary certainly doesn’t avoid the subject. The prospect of Mbilli vs. Iglesias is confronted ahead of the Cuban facing any other super middleweight, including Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Wednesday’s press conference in Quebec City will reveal how soon it could happen, with The Promise also hinting at a move to light heavyweight with fights hard to find. “I think the secret will be out a bit like his countryman David Morrell, who has had to go to light heavyweight because nobody wants to fight him,” The Ring Magazine’s Anson Wainwright added. “I think we will see that. The Eye of the Tiger guys are going to find it very difficult to book opponents for him.”