In an IBF heavyweight eliminator on March 28th in Las Vegas, Cuban standout Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez will take on undefeated U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez Jr. in a high-stakes crossroad matchup. Sanchez vs. Torrez is promoted in association with Top Rank. Born in Guantanamo, Cuba and now fighting out of Miami, Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) can put himself back into the world title mix with a victory on March 2th8. The 33-year old worked his way up the rankings while winning his first 24 bouts, including a dominant unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Efe Ajagba in October 2021 that cemented his contender status. Sanchez challenged another undefeated foe in May 2024 as he went up against Agit Kabayel, eventually losing the bout in round seven after suffering a knee injury early in the fight. Recovered from the injury, Sanchez returned to the ring last February with a TKO of Ramon Olivas Echeverria.
“A victory on March 28th moves me one step closer to being the IBF’s mandatory challenger and realizing my dream of becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world,” said Sanchez. “Torrez is a strong fighter who’s hungry to prove himself, but I will win this fight in grand fashion for my great Cuban and Latino fans.”
The 26 year-old Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs) has been perfect as a pro following a sensational amateur career that was capped by earning an Olympic silver medal, and which also featured triumphs over Jared Anderson and Dainier Pero. A native of Tulare, California, Torrez has steadily increased his competition as a pro, with his first notable triumph coming over the then undefeated Brandon Moore via fifth-round TKO in May 2024. After adding wins in 2024 over Joey Dawejko and Isaac Munoc Gutierrez, Torrez defeated another notable name last April as he bested Guido Vianello by unanimous decision. Most recently, Torrez earned a first-round stoppage of Tomas Salek last November.
“Frank is skilled, technical and dangerous, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for,” said Torrez. “Great fighters don’t avoid tests; they run toward them. I’ve prepared for every moment of this fight, and when the bell rings, I’m coming to take over.”
