Frank Sanchez could challenge Britain's unbeaten Moses Itauma for the vacant IBF world heavyweight title following Oleksandr Usyk's decision to relinquish all three major belts. The Ukrainian champion's departure opens a path for the division's top contenders, with Sanchez sitting as the IBF's No. 1 ranked fighter after his May victory over Richard Torrez Jr.

Itauma's next assignment comes against Filip Hrgovic on August 29, where the winner would likely meet Sanchez for the unclaimed title. The 21-year-old prospect previously declined a final eliminator against Sanchez last September, a decision that surprised his potential opponent's manager Mike Borao.

Sanchez carries one defeat on his record, losing to newly crowned WBC champion Agit Kabayel while battling a serious knee injury. Borao insists that a healthy Sanchez would have beaten Kabayel, pointing to the Cuban's dominant performance against Torrez Jr as evidence of his championship potential.

The winner of the Hrgovic-Itauma clash faces a Cuban contender who believes he will become the first heavyweight champion from his country in 2026, regardless of the opponent. This creates a compelling title scenario in the post-Usyk landscape.