--- title: "\"Nothing Will Stop Me\": Frank Sanchez Demands Mandatory IBF Title Fight with Hrgovic" description: "IBF mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez responded sharply to Hrgovic, who called a fight with him \"uninteresting\": the Cuban cites the federation's official decision and demands that the first title defense be made against him." date: 2026-09-02T08:36:04.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sanchez-demands-mandatory-fight-with-hrgovic-for-ibf-belt tags: [boxing, ibf, frank-sanchez, filip-hrgovic, heavyweight, mandatory-challenger, cuba] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # "Nothing Will Stop Me": Frank Sanchez Demands Mandatory IBF Title Fight with Hrgovic ![Frank Sanchez in a fighting stance with boxing gloves demanding a mandatory IBF title fight against Hrgovic](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/02/sanches-trebuget-obiazatelnyj-boj-s-hrgovichem-za-poyas-ibf/sanches-trebuget-obiazatelnyj-boj-s-hrgovichem-za-poyas-ibf-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Frank Sanchez cites the official IBF decision obliging Hrgovic to make his first defense against him - Hrgovic publicly stated that a fight with Sanchez is "uninteresting" to him, but the federation's regulations leave him no choice - Sanchez earlier gave up his right to a fight with Itauma in exchange for mandatory challenger status - The Cuban is ready to fight at any venue — from the United States to Saudi Arabia - A discrepancy in Sanchez's age is recorded in the sources: 32 or 33 years old Frank Sanchez, the Cuban heavyweight boxer and mandatory challenger for the IBF title, reacted sharply to the statement made by newly crowned champion Filip Hrgovic, who publicly expressed that a fight against the Cuban was "uninteresting" to him. Sanchez, in turn, reminded that the International Boxing Federation has already made an official decision, and the Croatian is obliged to make his first defense against him. This is reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing The Ring Magazine. ### IBF Regulatory Decision and Deal Terms The Cuban's key argument is the clear IBF regulatory decision. Earlier, Sanchez agreed to give up his right to a fight with Moses Itauma in exchange for retaining his status as mandatory challenger and a guaranteed bout against the winner. This is exactly how the current situation was built: Hrgovic won the belt by defeating the British Itauma by technical knockout in the ninth round, and received it under the obligation to make his first defense against Sanchez. "It doesn't matter what Hrgovic said. We have an official IBF decision that Hrgovic must make his next fight against me, with no other bouts, including unification fights," the Cuban emphasized. ### Style, Experience, and Readiness to Fight Anywhere in the World Sancheh acknowledges his opponent's strengths: the Croatian has a tough chin and a wealth of experience in professional boxing. At the same time, the Cuban is confident that his own style — aggressive and knockout-oriented — is a perfect match for a clash with Hrgovic. His readiness to fight at any venue underscores the seriousness of his intentions: Sanchez rules out neither the United States nor Saudi Arabia, where he has already stepped into the ring three times. "I want to get my chance to compete for the world title, and nothing will stop me. My trainer Eddie Reynoso has given me an excellent base. I felt great in my last fight and I am now ready to become a world champion," the boxer stated. ### Drive to Make Boxing History For Sanchez, this bout is not just another title defense in the rankings, but a chance to make history as the first heavyweight world champion born in Cuba. The training process under Eddie Reynoso, according to the boxer himself, has brought him to peak form. In professional boxing, the Cuban has 27 fights on his record: 26 wins, 19 of them by knockout, and a single loss — to Agit Kabaele in March 2024. Such a record underscores that Sanchez is a boxer whose main strength lies in the destructive power of his punches. ### Contradictory Data The provided materials contain a discrepancy in Frank Sanchez's age. In one paragraph of the source he is described as a "32-year-old Cuban" striving to make history, while in another he is referred to as a "33-year-old Sanchez" who has fought 27 bouts. The one-year difference may be due to part of the text being prepared before the boxer's birthday and part after it, or to a typesetting error. The exact date of birth and, consequently, his current age as of September 2, 2026, must be verified in official IBF data or specialized boxing databases before final publication. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - ["Nothing Will Stop Me": Sanchez Demands a Title Fight with Hrgovic](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/boxing/nishcho-mene-zupinit-sanches-vimagae-chempionskiy-1788334803.html) - Основной источник. Содержит прямые цитаты Санчеса, описание регламентного решения IBF, рекорд боксёра. Зафиксировано расхождение в возрасте (32/33). - [Itauma and Hrgovic to Contest the IBF Heavyweight Belt: When the Title Fight Will Take Place](https://ura-inform.com/sport-ru/2026/08/05/poyas-ibf-v-supertyazhelom-vese-razygrayut-itauma-i-hrgovich-kogda-sostoitsya-chempionskij-boj/) - Подтверждает факт проведения боя Итаума — Хргович за пояс IBF и его результат (TKO 9-й раунд в пользу Хрговича). - [Official: Itauma and Hrgovic Will Hold a Bout for the Title Belt](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/box/1785835269-oficialno-itauma-i-hrgovich-provedut-poedinok-za-chempionskiy-poyas.html) - Подтверждает официальный статус поединка за титул IBF между Итаумой и Хрговичем. - [IBF Mandatory Challenger Throws Down the Gauntlet to Usyk After a Knockout](https://korrespondent.net/sport/boks/4881546-obiazatelnyi-pretendent-IBF-brosyl-vyzov-usyku-posle-hromkoho-nokauta) - Подтверждает статус Санчеса как обязательного претендента IBF и его активную позицию в рейтинге. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Hrgovic obliged to fight Sanchez if he himself called this bout "uninteresting"? **A:** Because the IBF made an official regulatory decision: Hrgovic received the belt under the obligation to make his first defense against Frank Sanchez. This decision was already in place at the stage when Sanchez gave up his right to a fight with Itauma in exchange for retaining his mandatory challenger status. ### Q: What is Frank Sanchez's professional record? **A:** The Cuban has 27 fights on his record: 26 wins (19 by knockout) and one loss — to Agit Kabaele in March 2024. ### Q: Where could the Hrgovic–Sanchez fight take place? **A:** Sanchez stated that he is ready to meet the Croatian anywhere on the planet — whether in the United States or in Saudi Arabia, where he has already boxed three times. The final venue will be determined by the IBF and the promoters. ### Q: Who trains Frank Sanchez? **A:** The Cuban's trainer is Eddie Reynoso. Sanchez himself notes that it was Reynoso who gave him an "excellent base" and brought him to peak form ahead of the title fight.