Torrez offers to travel as Sanchez’s knee issue delays IBF eliminator and stalls division movement
Richard Torrez Jr called out Frank Sanchez to revive their IBF eliminator after it fell through earlier this month. The move puts pressure on Sanchez’s position as his knee injury continues to delay the fight.
Torrez said he is willing to travel and remove any barriers to getting the fight made. He’s stuck waiting on the Cuban Sanchez, who pulled out of their scheduled IBF heavyweight title eliminator earlier this month due to inflammation of his surgically repaired right knee.
While the young Moses Itauma is staying active and building a highlight reel against aging names, Torrez Jr. is tethered to a veteran whose body seems to be failing him.
“If you would ever like to fight, I will fly to you. Wherever you want to make it happen, we can make it happen,” Torrez said to Fight Hub TV in sending a message to Sanchez.
By telling Sanchez, “I will fly to you,” Torrez Jr. is trying to force the IBF’s hand. If Sanchez can’t commit to a date because of his knee, Torrez Jr. wants it on the record that he was ready and willing.
He’s essentially campaigning for the IBF to either force Sanchez to fight or move him out of the way so Torrez Jr. can face the next available contender (currently Bakhodir Jalolov at #5).
By waiting for Sanchez, Torrez Jr. is essentially putting his career in the hands of a 33-year-old’s surgically repaired knee. He’s currently a hostage to Frank Sanchez’s health.
The unbeaten heavyweight followed that with a direct message later in the interview, again naming Sanchez and calling for the fight to be arranged.
“Message to Frank Sanchez. Let’s make a fight happen,” Torrez Jr. said. “I’m ready. Whenever, man. I’m one call away,” he said.
Sanchez has been inactive for over a year (save for that one low-level Tijuana fight in February 2025). Torrez Jr. is essentially betting his 2026 on a 33-year-old veteran with a recurring knee problem who hasn’t been in a “real” fight since 2024.
