Hrgovic and Sanchez in Talks — Winner to Become IBF Mandatory

According to The Ring, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has officially ordered a bout between Croatian heavyweight Filip Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) and Cuba’s Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs).

Both fighters have confirmed to insider Mike Coppinger of The Ring that they are willing to fight and are currently negotiating the terms of the matchup.

The winner will become the mandatory challenger for the IBF world title, currently held by Daniel Dubois.

In his most recent outing, Hrgovic secured a decision win over Joe Joyce, while Sanchez delivered a third-round knockout of Ramon Olivas in February 2025.