Daniel Dubois has opted out of an IBF heavyweight title eliminator against Frank Sanchez.
Wardley becomes the target
It’s a predictable move by Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) as he could now potentially challenge Fabio Wardley for his WBO title in a Queensberry in-house fight without the need for a risky title eliminator.
On paper, Wardley will be too much for Dubois in terms of his complete game. He hits hard, throws combos and has a strong chin. In every area, Wardley is better than Dubois. But it’s understandable why Daniel’s promoters would want to go in that direction for an outright title shot if they chose to.
Why Sanchez was too much smoke
Fighting Cuban Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) would have been an almost impossible obstacle for former IBF heavyweight champion ‘Dynamite’ Dubois, as he punches with power, speed, and he is deadly with his combinations.
What it says about Dubois
Getting through that fight in one piece without suffering another knockout loss would have been a minefield for Dubois. Chances are, Sanchez would send Dubois to his fourth career loss, which would likely permanently ruin his chances of ever winning another world title.
The 28-year-old Dubois could go straight into a world title fight against newly promoted WBO heavyweight champion Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) without working for the fight. This is the better option for Dubois, as once again it may have been too much for him to face Sanchez. That guy is bad news for fighters with weak chins and poor concentration.
The Joshua–Usyk Boerpothoek
If Dubois can dethrone Wardley to capture the WBO title, it will give him the golden ticket to entice Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk to face him for the big money. Daniel is coming off a fifth-round knockout loss to Usyk in an uncontested four-way clash on July 19, 2025. Dubois got a massive $71 million payday for that fight.
Daniel Dubois has withdrawn from his world title eliminator against Frank Sanchez 🚨
Daniel Dubois has withdrawn from his world title eliminator against Frank Sanchez 🚨 pic.twitter.com/yBJ88PEC8o
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) November 20, 2025
Last updated on 20/11/2025
