The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially ordered a final elimination bout in the heavyweight division. Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez will face off in a crucial fight.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reports that negotiations are underway for the fight between Hrgovic, ranked No. 6 by the IBF, and Sanchez, ranked No. 4. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for the IBF heavyweight title, currently held by Daniel Dubois.
This decision occurs amidst reports that Dubois might fight unified champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title this summer at Wembley Stadium. However, the IBF`s mandatory challenger situation adds complexity. Veteran Derek Chisora was previously named mandatory challenger after winning against Otto Wallin in February, but this new order might postpone his title chance.
When contacted for clarification, the IBF stated: “The eliminator is ordered, with negotiations due by April 29th. Both fighters have agreed to negotiate. Currently, we plan to order Daniel Dubois and Derek Chisora to begin negotiations for the mandatory title defense on April 22nd.”
Hrgovic aims to regain his top contender status after losing to Dubois in June 2024. He recently won against Joe Joyce in Manchester. Sanchez is looking to bounce back from his first professional loss to Agit Kabayel last year. After knee surgery, he returned in February with a TKO victory over Ramon Olivas Echeverria.
The possibility of a Dubois-Usyk rematch adds further complexity. Chisora now faces a decision: wait for the Dubois-Usyk winner for a title shot, or take an interim fight to stay active. For Chisora, a popular and resilient fighter, the path to a world title might take longer.
