Richard Torrez Jr. has reportedly agreed to an IBF heavyweight title eliminator match against Frank Sanchez. The two companies will begin negotiations and reach an agreement by December 17 before proceeding to bid for the wallet.

Sanchez vs. Torrez Jr. will give the winner a chance to challenge IBF champion Oleksander Usyk for his belt. However, it is unlikely that Usyk would agree to fight the winner as he is close to retirement and had already vacated his WBO title when ordered to fight Fabio Wardley.

Why others avoid Sanchez

2020 Olympic silver medalist Torrez Jr. (14-0, 12 KOs) showed grit against IBF No. 3 Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) as these fighters have declined:

• Daniel DuBois, Philip Helgovitch
• worship ajaba
• Moses will be in pain

The 26-year-old Torrez may realize that if he doesn’t take the risk, he may have to wait years for another opportunity where he can fight for a world title. By then, all the big names like Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and others will be gone.

Today, insider Dan Rafael revealed that Top Rank promotion Torrez Jr. has agreed to fight 33-year-old Sanchez in an IBF title eliminator. X.

Sanchez returns from knee surgery

Cuban-born Sanchez has looked dangerous for much of his eight-year career. His only loss came against Agit Kabayel a year ago on May 18, 2024, when he was stopped in the seventh round. The defeat can be attributed to Sanchez limping into the ring fighting with an injured right knee.

Sanchez was doing relatively well in the fight until Cabayel began leaning on him during the scuffle, putting all his weight on his pre-existing knee issues. Since that game, Sanchez has had successful knee surgery.

Three-year pro Torrez Jr. remains busy in 2025, knocking out Tomas Salak in the first round last November and defeating 2016 Olympian Guido Vianello last April with a 10-round unanimous decision.