An unbeaten American heavyweight contender is set to face the division’s ‘bogeyman’ for a dream title shot at Oleksandr Usyk.
California’s Richard Torrez Jr, who walked away from the 2020 Olympic Games with a silver medal, can move within one victory away from securing a shot at unified world heavyweight champion Usyk.
Torrez was last in action back in November when he stopped Czechia’s Tomas Salek in the opening round of their heavyweight title bout at the Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
It has now been confirmed that a deal had been reached for Torrez to face Cuban heavyweight star Frank Sanchez in a final eliminator for the IBF world heavyweight title next.
As reported by Dan Rafael on social media, purse bids had been scheduled to take place on Tuesday but these have now been cancelled after both fighters came to a suitable deal for their final eliminator.
The intriguing heavyweight match-up is expected to take place on the undercard of Sebastian Fundora’s upcoming world title defence against Keith Thurman in March, with an official announcement likely to be made in due course.
Sanchez made just one ring appearance in 2025, stopping Ramon Olivas Echeverria in the 3rd round of their clash in Tijuana. This was the Cuban’s first outing since he suffered the first defeat of his career to WBC interim heavyweight champion Agit Kabayel in May of 2024.
Usyk was last in action in July, when he earned a fifth round knockout victory over Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley Stadium.
