Frank Sanchez cemented his position as the IBF mandatory challenger with a devastating knockout of Richard Torrez Jr. The Cuban striker delivered an explosive performance on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk's victory over Rico Verhoeven in Egypt, securing his path to a world title fight.

Sanchez's only defeat came against Agit Kabayel in 2024, a fight where a knee injury hampered his performance. Manager Mike Borao insists his fighter has reaffirmed his status as a top contender, emphasizing that Sanchez is now back in top form and ready to capitalize on his mandatory status.

Borao revealed he is reviewing options with partner Lupe Valencia, stating their primary goal is to face Usyk as soon as possible. However, Sanchez remains open to interim fights against elite heavyweights like Daniel Dubois or Tyson Fury while waiting for his world title opportunity.

Despite being the mandatory challenger, Sanchez's team understands the business side of boxing. With Usyk potentially facing a Kabayel rematch or Verhoeven replay, Sanchez's patience may be tested. The 27-year-old now stands as the division's most legitimate threat to Usyk's dominance.