Iglesias vs Zaren Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (Oct. 8)
By Jaren Kawada in Boxing
Published:
- Osleys Iglesias defends the IBF and IBO super middleweight titles against Oliver Zaren in Quebec, Canada
- Rising contender Wilkens Mathieu returns in the co-main event, with Imam Khataev also on the undercard
- Check out the best analysis, predictions and bets for the full Osleys Iglesias vs. Oliver Zaren card below
World championship boxing returns to Canada on Thursday night when IBF and IBO super middleweight champion Osleys Iglesias (15-0) puts his titles on the line against Oliver Zaren (19-0-1) at the Capitole de Quebec.
Cuba’s Iglesias has spent his last six fights in Canada, including his title-clinching victory over Pavel Silyagin in April. The victory shot him up the 168-pound rankings, with Ring Magazine now considering him the second-best super middleweight, only behind Canelo Alvarez.
The undefeated Zaren enters his first world title fight four months after an awkward draw with Jose Luis Navarro Jr. in a fight that got called off due to heavy rain. Zaren, 26, has otherwise dominated his remaining opponents on the European regional scene.
The Iglesias vs. Zaren undercard also features rising 168-pound prospect Wilkens Mathieu, who takes on 35-year-old veteran Vladimir Shishkin in his next test. Ex-world title challenger Leila Beaudoin and former Olympic bronze medalist Imam Khataev join them on the preliminary portion.
Osleys Iglesias vs. Oliver Zaren Odds
Odds as of Oct. 8, 2026, from theScore Bet. Check out the best boxing apps in 2026 to place a wager.
Iglesias is a big favorite to notch his first title defense against Zaren. The 28-year-old is lined at -2000, with Zaren coming back at +850.
Every fight of the night features a big favorite, but none larger than Imam Khataev, who is listed at -3300 to beat Padraig McCrory. The 38-year-old Irishman is subsequently the biggest underdog on the card at +1200.
Osleys Iglesias vs. Oliver Zaren Prediction
Iglesias and Zaren both have the same goal in their fights with differing game plans once they get there. While they each want to fight in the mid-range area, Iglesias likes to beat people down with his accurate power punching, while Zaren tries to overwhelm with his volume and pressure.
Although they come in with similar measurements, Iglesias will be much stronger than Zaren, which will factor into the latter’s game plan. He will not be able to push Iglesias back as easily as most of his previous opponents, and even when he does, he will have to walk through the fire to score. Nobody has been able to walk through the champion’s power, and Zaren will be no different.
Zaren has had to earn every win on his undefeated record by simply believing his will and durability will overcome those of his opponent. He eats a lot of shots with confidence that his opponent will wilt first. That might work against regional competition, but he will not be able to eat the shots coming back at him from Iglesias.
If Zaren brings the same pressure-based game plan that has gotten him to this point, which he claims he will, Iglesias will tee off on him with timely counters and more damaging combinations. His last two wins came in the eighth round, but 13 of his 15 fights have still ended before the 7.5-round mark, which is where the total currently sits.
- Boxing Picks: Under 7.5 Rounds (-115 on theScore Bet)
Wilkens Mathieu vs. Vladimir Shishkin Prediction
Now a fixture of the super middleweight top-15 rankings, 21-year-old Wilkens Mathieu appears to be the future of the weight class. His next challenge comes against divisional mainstay Vladimir Shishkin in the Iglesias-Zaren co-main event.
Now in his 10th year as a professional fighter, Shishkin is firmly on the back end of his career, going just 1-2 in his last three fights. However, his losses came in world title fights against Iglesias and former champion William Scull, still proving he can compete with the elite. Mathieu is still a few steps below that level but is coming off an impressive eighth-round TKO win over former Olympic medalist Esquiva Falcao.
Coming off a pair of losses in which he struggled with the speed and athleticism of Iglesias and Scull, Shishkin now faces the fastest and most athletic opponent of his career. However, unlike Iglesias and Scull, Mathieu will let Shishkin into the range he wants, but that only further benefits the youngster.
Shishkin needs to be on the inside to have success, but the power and speed of Mathieu’s counters will be a dangerous trap he must evade. Mathieu loves luring his opponents into that range by remaining flat-footed and defensive before exploding into quick and powerful combinations.
Cardio remains an issue for Mathieu, but at this point in Shishkin’s career, it seems unlikely he will remain durable enough to drag this fight into the later rounds.
- Boxing Picks: Wilkens Mathieu by KO/TKO (+125 on theScore Bet)
Leila Beaudoin vs. Brisa Alfonzo Prediction
Since getting dominated by Alycia Baumgardner on Netflix, Leila Beaudoin has yet to lose a round in her last two fights. The loss proved she is far from world-class level, but Beaudoin is still adept enough to shine against lower-level competition.
Nothing about Beaudoin’s game screams excitement, with her tendency to remain out of danger at all costs and narrowly out-score opponents with simple combinations. Her true expertise lies in negating the offense of her opponents, especially when they allow her to dictate the fight and maintain a slow pace.
Alfonzo will at least try to pressure Beaudoin, but her sloppy technique will not beat the champion’s disciplined game plan. Alfonzo throws nothing with significant intent and is void of any defense, simply collecting wins against bottom-barrel competition solely on volume.
Alfonzo’s previous 12 opponents have a combined record of just 28-38-6. She is lightyears away from being ready for this moment and should not have anything for Beaudoin.
This fight remains out of the prop market, only leaving Beaudoin’s moneyline as a confident, yet feeble parlay leg.
- Boxing Picks: Leila Beaudoin Moneyline (-2000 on theScore Bet)
Imam Khataev vs. Padraig McCrory Best Bet
Imam Khataev appeared destined for a world title fight before out-of-the-ring issues and a controversial loss to David Morrell got in his way. With all that now behind him, the Russian has seemingly gotten back on track and looks for another emphatic step in the right direction against Padraig McCrory.
On paper, McCrory, who is 2-2 in his last four fights with losses to former world title challengers Craig Richards and Edgar Berlanga, is a perfect matchup for Khataev. He is a well-known name in the division, but a 38-year-old who is definitively on the back-end of his career.
McCrory has power to end fights and structured defense to evade simplistic attacks, but he has always struggled against power coming back in his direction. While he was able to extend his fights with Richards and Berlanga, it did not take many clean lands before the fights ended. Even before then, McCrory was on skates throughout and recovered just enough to keep himself alive.
But while Richards and Berlanga picked him apart with boxing, Khataev is a completely different style matchup. ‘The Destroyer’ will force him into a dogfight from the gun and remain in his face the entire fight. Khataev only has one motion and has the chin to hold him up with enough power to stop anybody in their tracks.
The low total is scary, but Khataev has been on a complete tear since his controversial loss to Morrell. Nine of his 11 KO/TKO victories have come within three rounds.
- Boxing Picks: Under 3.5 Rounds (-150 on theScore Bet)
