Joe
Rising heavyweight contender Moses Itauma has officially turned down an offer to compete in the IBF heavyweight eliminator bout against Frank Sanchez, which promised the winner a world title shot against the division’s undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk currently holds all four major belts — WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.
With Itauma stepping aside, 26-year-old American and Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez (13-0, 11 KOs) is now set to be offered the opportunity to face Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) for the eliminator. Sanchez earned his position after defeating a lesser-known opponent in February, despite coming off a tough loss to Agit Kabayel.
Previously, Efe Ajagba declined the IBF eliminator, which then led to Itauma receiving the offer. Torrez, promoted by Top Rank, faces an uncertain future as his promotional company continues to seek a new broadcast deal following the end of its agreement with ESPN earlier this summer.
Sanchez, 33, presents a challenge for emerging fighters like Itauma and Torrez. While technically skilled and experienced, Sanchez lacks major name recognition and market appeal, a reminder of the sport’s ongoing struggle between athletic competition and commercial interests.
If Torrez also refuses the fight, the next contender likely to receive the offer is Daniel Dubois, currently ranked No. 7 by the IBF. Dubois trails behind Itauma (No. 5) and Torrez (No. 6), while Sanchez holds the No. 4 spot. The IBF rankings, however, often reflect complicated internal rules rather than pure competitive merit, leading to sometimes unusual matchups.
Behind Dubois in the IBF rankings are notable names like Filip Hrgovic, Jared Anderson, and Michael Hunter. Despite the complexities, the IBF is expected to eventually finalize an eliminator bout, with the winner moving on to challenge for the heavyweight world title.
