Overview
- The IBF confirmed Dubois and Sanchez have agreed to an ordered final eliminator and opened a 15‑day negotiating window that runs to Oct. 22, after which the bout can go to a purse bid if no deal is reached.
- The eliminator winner becomes the mandatory challenger to Usyk’s IBF belt, though Usyk’s camp has signaled he is considering future options as he recovers, raising the possibility the title could be vacated.
- The sanctioning body turned to Dubois after other leading heavyweights declined Sanchez, including Filip Hrgovic, Efe Ajagba and Moses Itauma, with Richard Torrez Jr noted as next in the IBF queue.
- Sanchez enters as a credible 25-1 contender trained by Eddy Reynoso, rebounding from his lone loss to Agit Kabayel with a February stoppage win in Tijuana.
- Dubois is seeking to rebound from a fifth-round stoppage loss to Usyk in July and has split with trainer Don Charles, with Tony Sims now guiding his next phase.