IBF orders Sanchez vs Ajagba rematch eliminator
The IBF now have Frank Sanchez and Efe Ajagba in position for a heavyweight title eliminator.
The IBF’s search for a mandatory challenger in the heavyweight division has taken another turn.
With Derek Chisora parked in the No. 2 slot in the IBF ratings behind the feared and familiar NOT RATED, the sanctioning body ordered an eliminator between Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez in mid-April, having stripped a May 3 fight between Efe Ajagba and Martin Bakole of eliminator status.
Hrgovic, however, passed on the order and will instead fight David Adeleye on July 19, on the Usyk vs Dubois 2 undercard. And the IBF have now ordered Sanchez and Ajagba to face one another in what would be a rematch, with the winner then likely to receive an order to fight Derek Chisora at some point in a final eliminator, which could also be a problem because Chisora is 41 years old and, at the moment, only planning to have one more fight.
In short, Chisora (36-13, 23 KO) may not want to wait around to have an opportunity at an opportunity, and it’s not like Ajagba vs Sanchez is actually on the calendar or anything.
The 31-year-old Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KO) is coming off of a draw with Bakole on May 3, a fight that saw fans largely leaning toward Ajagba if forced to pick a winner, though it would be a stretch to call it a robbery compared to what we see in boxing all the time.
Sanchez (25-1, 18 KO) had a very low-level fight on February 22 in Tijuana, which was his first outing since he got knocked out by Agit Kabayel in May 2024. The 32-year-old Cuban wouldn’t exactly be coming into the eliminator hot on paper, and it’s a mystery of boxing politics and perception as to why beating an 18-24 club fighter opponent in a six-rounder would get you into an eliminator at all.
Sanchez did beat Ajagba by wide decision back in October 2021, and that still stands as the clear best win on the Cuban’s pro record.
If Sanchez vs Ajagba 2 does get done, it would seem likely to end up on the Canelo vs Crawford undercard in September, as Sanchez has ties to Team Canelo.