Richard Torrez Jr’s path toward an IBF heavyweight title shot has been delayed after Frank Sanchez suffered a knee injury that forced their scheduled eliminator off the March 28 card in Las Vegas. The fight had been positioned as a key step in the IBF rankings, with the winner expected to move into mandatory challenger territory.
Top Rank executive Carl Moretti confirmed that Torrez will not remain on the Fundora-Thurman card at the MGM Grand after the eliminator was removed. The bout had been scheduled to open the pay-per-view broadcast, but the focus now is on finding a new date once Sanchez is able to return to training.
Dan Rafael reported that the fight is now being targeted for May 30 on the undercard of a proposed Devin Haney vs. Rolando Romero card. That event has not yet been finalized, leaving the heavyweight eliminator dependent on both Sanchez’s recovery and the confirmation of the planned show.
Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs) last fought in November, stopping Tomas Salek in the opening round in Mexico. The 26-year-old southpaw from Tulare, California, turned pro in 2022 after winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and has been moved quickly through the rankings since signing with Top Rank.
Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) has been dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right knee. The 33-year-old Cuban heavyweight underwent arthroscopic surgery in June 2024 following damage sustained around the time of his seventh-round knockout loss to Agit Kabayel earlier that year.
The injury comes during a long stretch of inactivity for Sanchez, who has fought only once since the Kabayel defeat, stopping Ramon Olivas Echeverria in three rounds in February 2025.
The May target date does not guarantee the eliminator moves forward smoothly. Sanchez has fought only once since undergoing knee surgery in 2024, and the same joint is now inflamed again during training. If the injury prevents him from completing another camp, the IBF eliminator could face another delay, leaving Torrez waiting even longer for the fight that could move him into mandatory position.
The delay leaves the IBF eliminator unresolved for now, with Torrez left waiting for the opportunity that could move him closer to a title fight.
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Last Updated on 2026/03/12 at 12:07 AM
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