The IBF has canceled the purse trial for the ordered heavyweight title eliminator between Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr. adjourned, moving the session back to Tuesday, January 27. The hearing was scheduled for Thursday before both sides asked for another delay, which the sanctions body granted.
It is the latest delay in a fight that was ordered nearly two months ago. Previous deadlines have passed without a deal, and the most optimistic reading is that the new date gives both camps a final window to lock down terms and avoid a purse bid. This outcome has yet to materialize despite repeated extensions.
The fight carries weight within the division because the winner would become the IBF mandatory challenger for unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, although the timing of any mandatory obligation remains undefined.
Sanchez was a difficult assignment to place. Several ranked heavyweights turned down the opportunity earlier in the process, stalling the eliminator for months. Torrez Jr. remained in the process as other heavyweights declined in the rankings.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalist made it clear he wanted the fight and didn’t back down like others.
Torrez’s interest is consistent with his style and career stage. He is young, exerts steady pressure and carries heavy hands. His most recent outing, a first-round knockout victory last November in Mexico, kept his momentum moving while the knockout sat unsettled. The fight that got him back in line was the same fight that initially forced him to succeed on Sanchez.
For Sanchez, the situation was quieter. He has not fought since last February, when he returned in a confidence-boosting bout following his stoppage loss to Agit Kabayel in Riyadh. Since then, his path has been defined by delays rather than ring time.
Until the purse bid is either held or avoided by a late deal, the eliminator remains theoretical. Torrez showed willingness where others did not. Whether that decision leads to an actual fight now rests with the clock rather than intent.
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Last updated on 22/01/2026
