The IBF ordered #4 Frank Sanchez to fight #6 Philip HRGOVIC in a heavyweight title -Liminator. The winner will be compulsory for IBF champion Daniel Dubois. They will still have to wait until the current mandatory Derek Chisora gets its title at Dubois.
Sanchez (25-1, 18 costs) and HRGOVIC (18-1, 14 COs) were both knocked out two battles ago. It seems a little early for them to get another chance to put themselves in position to fight for a world title. This is how the IBF works.
Timeline for a shot
Chisora is likely to get a shot later this year from the winner of the Dublois against Oleksandr Ulsyk 2 Rematch. If all goes well, the Sanchez-Hrgovic winner will challenge the IBF title in early 2026. This is a best case. In the worst case, they will have to wait until 2027.
This makes it easy for certain fighters to get title shots; That’s why 41-year-old Chisora worked himself in a compulsory slot after beating Otto Wallin, Joe Joyce, 39, and 42-year-old Gerald Washington in his last three fights. It makes it good what it means to be mandatory if choosing fighters have it so easy.
Dubois is expected to fight against a re-broadcast with the united three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr utility. The winner of the fight will defend against Chisora and then the winner of the Sanchez-Hrgovic match.
Hrgovic had many problems in his last fight, and did the distance of 10 rounds to defeat Joe Joyce on April 5. After the fight, Hrgovic’s face looked like he was hit by a truck. The slow, heavy shots of Joyce did a lot of damage.
Sanchez, who looks much older than his chronological age of 32, was stopped by Agit Kabayel last May 18 in the seventh round. He was twice dropped by Kabayel in the seventh round due to knee problems. If the knee of Sanchez still causes him, he will not last long against Hrgovic, because he will probably lean on him to test the problem.
An update on El Animal’s next potential struggle
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– Queensberry Promotions (@queensberry) April 16, 2025
Last updated on 04/16/2025
