Frank Sanchez

Bio

Frank Sanchez is the IBF heavyweight mandatory challenger. The Cuban-born technician produced the cleanest single-shot finish of the Glory In Giza undercard — a counter right uppercut 55 seconds into round two that left Richard Torrez Jr flat on his back and handed the undefeated American his first professional defeat.

Sanchez has always had the pedigree — Cuban amateur system, slick fundamentals, a counter game that punishes any heavyweight who comes forward without thinking. The questions were always about the killer instinct, the engine, the appetite to drag the very best into deep water. The Torrez Jr finish was the answer. Patient round one, perfect timing in round two, fight over.

He's now first in line for Oleksandr Usyk's IBF strap. Whether the champion takes the mandatory immediately or unifies his diary with one more big-name fight before retirement is the open question, but Sanchez is on the doorstep with momentum he hasn't had since the loss to Bakhodir Jalolov. The Cuban Flash is back at the top of the heavyweight pile where his talent always said he belonged.