Frank Sanchez Eyes IBF Crown After Dubois Clash Looms

By Graham Ilford: Frank Sanchez’s co-manager, Mike Borao, says his focus is to fight for the “number one position” on the IBF heavyweight rankings against “whoever” that person is up against.

Countdown Scholarship Bid

Cuban Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) failed to negotiate a deal with former IBF champion Dubois (23-3, 21 KOs). They have scheduled a purse bid for next week, on November 13th.

They want to decide this so they can focus on training to earn the IBF knockout spot to challenge champion Oleksandr Usyk.

End game for Daniel?

Sanchez, 33, possesses the hand speed and power that could be kryptonite against Dubois, who quickly crumbled in his fifth-round knockout loss to Usyk in their rematch last summer on July 19, 2025. It could be an unmitigated disaster for what’s left of Dubois’ career. Going up against Sanchez, who is completely wrong for him in terms of speed and power, could shut down the one-hit wonder.

Dubois seemed mentally disconnected from the start, with a spaced appearance from someone who wasn’t there. You could tell he wasn’t focused from the moment he made his rounds.

The reports of Dubois having a party at his home on the day of his fight are alarming. This suggests that he thought he already had the win in the bag against the 38-year-old Usyk. Some would argue that Daniel’s previous fight against Anthony Joshua, in which he obliterated AJ in five rounds on September 21, 2024, went to his head and made him believe he could walk on water.

“Obviously, Frank prefers to fight a former former world champion like Daniel Dubois to prove himself elite,” said Mike Borao. Sky Sports about Frank Sanchez wanting to fight Dubois in an IBF title eliminator.

“However, at this stage, Frank is only keen to fight for the number one position, whoever that may be.”

Sanchez’s golden return

Frank Sanchez looked golden in his last fight, knocking out Ramon Olivas Echeverria in the third round on February 22, 2025. This was Sanchez’s first fight back after having arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee in June 2024.

In Sanchez’s fight before that, he was stopped by Agit Kabayel in the seventh round on May 18, 2024. However, he battled with an injured right knee and appeared far from 100%. Still, Sanchez’s massive headers, thrown at lightning speed, that Kabayel was forced to absorb. Few heavyweights could take those blows without succumbing quickly.

“There won’t be any setup fights for Daniel Dubois. Twenty-eight years old, he’s coming off an undisputed title fight, so there won’t be any warm-up fights. It’s straight back in,” adviser Sam Jones said of Dubois looking to force a quick world title shot after a trilogy with champion Oleksandr Usyk.

No warmups for Dubois

You can understand why Dubois is in a big hurry to get a title shot. If he is going to catch champion Usyk before he retires, he must take chances by facing the dangerous Sanchez. Dubois’ purse for his rematch with Usyk last July was a whopping $71 million.

He’s not going to make that kind of haul to fight any of the contenders. Plus, with Dubois’ shaky punch resistance, there’s a good chance he’ll be wiped out by one of them soon. Sanchez has an excellent chance to eliminate Dubois from his title chase.

Veteran boxing columnist Graham Ilford brings dry humor and long-deserved perspective to the sport.