Frank Sanchez faces Richard Torrez Jnr on Saturday in an IBF final eliminator that will send the winner into pole position for a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s belt. The Cuban heavyweight is one victory away from becoming the mandatory challenger for the IBF title held by the unified champion.
The fight sits on the undercard of Usyk’s bout against Rico Verhoeven in Giza, Egypt, adding extra weight to a meeting that already carries real consequences. Sanchez, who wants to become Cuba’s first world heavyweight champion, comes in with one defeat on his record, a 2024 loss to Agit Kabayel when he was hampered by a knee injury.
There is another layer to the matchup. Torrez enters with 14 victories and 12 stoppages, and his unbeaten run is exactly what makes him dangerous for Sanchez, according to Mike Borao. Borao said Sanchez is facing “a top, undefeated, relentless southpaw in Torrez - an opponent that no one is looking past.”
Borao also pointed to what a strong showing could mean beyond Saturday night. He said he thinks Usyk would welcome a fight with Sanchez after an impressive win, noting that the 39-year-old champion already has six wins over Fury, Joshua and Dubois and is “starting to run out of opponents.”
That is the tension hanging over the eliminator: Sanchez is trying to take the last step toward a title shot, but the path is not just about surviving Torrez. It is also about proving he belongs in the very small group of heavyweights who can force Usyk’s hand, whether the champion chooses to defend his belts or chase more lucrative fights at this stage of his career.
Borao said he expects “a great performance” from Sanchez this weekend, adding that he has the best coach, Eddy Reynoso, in his corner and has worked extremely hard. He said he knows the team has done everything possible to prepare, and Saturday will show whether that work is enough to keep Sanchez’s world-title hopes alive.
