Torrez’s title eliminator versus Sanchez canceled due to knee injury.
Undefeated heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr.’s IBF heavyweight title eliminator against Frank Sanchez, scheduled for March 28, has been canceled due to an injury sustained by Sanchez, sources familiar with the matter informed ESPN on Wednesday.
Torrez Jr. (14-0, 12 KOs) was poised to compete against Sanchez (27-1, 18 KOs with 1 No Contest) as part of the PPV opening for Sebastian Fundora’s WBC junior middleweight title defense against Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, Sanchez from Cuba has been compelled to withdraw from the match due to a knee injury. Sources indicate to ESPN that swelling in Sanchez’s previously operated right knee will necessitate the bout being postponed to a future date.
Torrez Jr. and Sanchez are ranked No. 9 and 10 among heavyweights by ESPN, respectively. The victor would have secured the position of mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk, who currently possesses the IBF, WBC, and WBA titles.
Usyk is set to defend the WBC title against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Usyk recently mentioned that he has three fights remaining before retiring, and the winner of Torrez and Sanchez was not included in his plans.
“Listen, Rico [Verhoeven] this is first. Second, it’s who wins, [WBO champion Fabio] Wardley or [Daniel] Dubois and third fight, it’s my friend, greedy belly Tyson Fury,” Usyk told Inside the Ring.
Torrez Jr. is coming off a stoppage victory against Tomas Salek last November, while Sanchez secured a win over Ramon Olivas Echeverria by third-round TKO in February.
