The IBF has granted Richard Torrez and Frank Sanchez additional time to finalize a deal for their ordered heavyweight final eliminator. The two sides were initially required to reach an agreement by December 17, but the sanctioning body has now extended the deadline to January 6.
If no agreement is reached by that date, the IBF will move forward with a purse bid.
Sanchez is looking to reaffirm his standing after suffering the first loss of his career in May of last year, when he was dropped twice and stopped in the seventh round by Agit Kabayel. The Cuban heavyweight rebounded in February with a third-round TKO over Ramon Olivas Echeverria and remains ranked No. 3 by the IBF.
In recent months, Sanchez has struggled to secure high-profile opposition, with Moses Itauma, Efe Ajagba, and Filip Hrgovic all declining offers to face him. Despite that, he continues to seek a statement win to reestablish his momentum in the division.
Torrez enters the negotiations from a position of strength. The 2020 Olympic silver medalist is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and has built momentum this year with victories over Tomas Salek and Guido Vianello.
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