Wilkens Mathieu defends NABF belt against Vladimir Shishkin

Wilkens Mathieu is set to defend his NABF super middleweight title against Vladimir Shishkin on October 8 at the Théâtre Capitole in Quebec City. The 21-year-old Mathieu holds a professional record of 16-0 with 11 knockouts. He faces Shishkin, who enters the contest with 17 wins and 2 losses, including 11 stoppages.

This matchup represents a significant step up in competition for Mathieu. His previous victory in June was an eighth-round stoppage of Esquiva Falcao, an Olympic silver medalist. While Falcao provided early resistance, Shishkin offers a different level of experience. Shishkin has previously competed in championship bouts lasting 12 rounds and has faced top-tier opposition.

Shishkin's recent losses came against high-level fighters. He suffered a unanimous decision defeat to William Scull in October 2024 and was stopped in eight rounds by Osleys Iglesias last September. Mathieu aims to replicate the path of these fighters, who both moved toward world title opportunities following their encounters with Shishkin.

Mathieu currently holds rankings of No. 8 in the WBC, No. 14 in the WBA, and No. 15 in both the IBF and WBO. A victory over Shishkin would serve as a major milestone in his career, moving him beyond the status of a prospect and establishing him as a legitimate contender in the 168-pound division.

Mathieu expressed confidence during the Eye of the Tiger announcement on Friday, stating he feels prepared to face anyone at super middleweight. He noted that the success of Scull and Iglesias after fighting Shishkin motivates his pursuit of a world title.

The October 8 event features Osleys Iglesias defending his IBF and IBO super middleweight titles against Oliver Zaren as the main event. The card will be available for international streaming on DAZN.