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On paper, the winner becomes Oleksandr Usyk’s mandatory challenger. In reality, this label has limited force.
Usyk controls the division. It also controls the clock. He has already shown his willingness to drop his belts rather than accept obligations that do not correspond to his plans. As retirement nears, he should be selective about his remaining fights. Mandatory defense against a developing competitor is unlikely to be a priority. That makes this eliminator less about forcing the champion and more about positioning yourself for what comes next.
For Richard Torrez Jr., this distinction matters. The 26-year-old is 14 and 0 with 12 saves. He stopped Tomáš Šálek in one round in November. He remained active. It was moved regularly. This fight would represent a clear jump in difficulty.
Sanchez is experienced, technical and difficult to play against. This is why it has been largely avoided. Efe Ajagba. Moses Itauma. Filip Hrgovic. Daniel Dubois. All were linked to IBF eliminators with Sanchez that never came to fruition, with Dubois even withdrawing on the morning of a planned purse bid. The trend has been consistent. High risk. Low reward.
There is also a business layer. Torrez is promoted by Top Rank, which is going through a period without a long-term national broadcast deal. That makes a purse bid scenario against a low-margin opponent like Sanchez a real financial gamble, not just a sporting one. Agreeing on terms is important.
Sanchez scored a tune-up victory in February last year, stopping a journeyman in Tijuana, but he has remained largely inactive at the top level. The danger was never in question. The incentive a.
This same equation now confronts Torrez. If he wins, an immediate title fight is unlikely. The most realistic result awaits. Waiting for Usyk to leave. Waiting for the belt to become available. Waiting for the division to be reset.
This doesn’t make the fight empty. That defines him.
Torrez does not pursue Usyk. He’s trying to be there when Usyk is gone.
This is the state of affairs.
