Frank Sanchez One Victory Away From World Heavyweight Title Shot Frank Sanchez is on the verge of securing a world heavyweight title fight after his upcoming bout against Richard Torrez Jr. in an IBF final eliminator this Saturday. The Cuban fighter, who has long sought a shot at the division’s top contenders, will face the undefeated southpaw Torrez Jr. in Giza, Egypt, as part of the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s main event against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven. A victory for Sanchez would make him the mandatory challenger for Usyk’s IBF title, which the Ukrainian holds as a unified champion. The fight carries significant weight for Sanchez, whose career has been defined by his pursuit of a title shot. Despite his 39-year-old age and the potential for Usyk to prioritize lucrative bouts over title defenses, Sanchez’s manager Mike Borao remains confident in his fighter’s ability to overcome the challenge. Borao, who also represents Teofimo Lopez and the Irish duo Aaron and Stephen McKenna, emphasized the importance of the fight for Sanchez’s legacy. “Frank is facing a top, undefeated, relentless southpaw in Torrez—an opponent that no one is looking past,” Borao told Sky Sports. “That said, I think Usyk would welcome a fight with Frank, particularly with an impressive win. After all, Usyk has six wins over Fury, Joshua, and Dubois, and he’s starting to run out of opponents!” Sanchez’s path to this moment has been marked by both triumph and setbacks. His only defeat came in 2024 against Agit Kabayel, a loss attributed to a knee injury that hampered his performance. However, Sanchez has since undergone rigorous preparation under the guidance of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, who has been instrumental in his training regimen.#oleksandr_usyk #frank_sanchez #richard_torrez_jr #ibf #mike_borao
Oleksandr Usyk helping Anthony Joshua before Tyson Fury meeting Oleksandr Usyk, the two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, has expressed confidence that Anthony Joshua will defeat Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch. Usyk, who has previously faced both fighters in competitive bouts, has been actively assisting Joshua in developing a gameplan for the all-British showdown. The Ukrainian boxer, who has remained undefeated in his career, emphasized his belief in Joshua’s ability to overcome Fury, despite acknowledging the latter’s formidable skills. Joshua, 36, is set to return to the ring on 25 July for a scheduled fight against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Following this, he has signed a long-term deal to face his former rival Fury later in the year. In recent months, Joshua has been training with Usyk in Spain and Ukraine, where the two have collaborated on strategy and preparation. Usyk, who has defeated Joshua twice in the past, shared his thoughts with BBC Sport, stating, “In my opinion, AJ wins against Fury. Fury is an unbelievable fighter and a very dangerous guy, but I look at how Anthony works and how he has changed. I want Anthony to win—he deserves it.” Usyk also highlighted his personal connection to Joshua, noting their shared experiences as fighters. He described Fury as a “greedy belly best friend” and praised his fighting abilities, but reiterated his support for Joshua’s victory. The Ukrainian champion added, “I like Fury, he’s an amazing fighter, but I want Anthony to win. He deserves it.” Beyond his preparations for the Fury fight, Joshua has been focusing on his upcoming bout against Prenga, which Usyk referred to as “official sparring.#anthony_joshua #tyson_fury #oleksandr_usyk #kristian_prenga #rico_verhoeven
