Daniel Dubois withdraws from his world title eliminator against Frank Sanchez
Daniel Dubois has pulled out of his ordered world title eliminator against Cuban contender Frank Sanchez, a fight that would have positioned the winner as the IBF mandatory challenger for the heavyweight championship. The bout was mandated by the IBF as part of the process to determine the next challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s world title, but Dubois and his team decided to remove themselves from the process.
Sky Sports confirmed that Dubois’ team believes this eliminator currently offers limited value, especially with the landscape of the IBF title picture shifting in recent months. The IBF has already designated another fighter as a mandatory contender at their convention, which means winning the eliminator would not have guaranteed Dubois an immediate shot at the belt.
They also indicated that committing to the eliminator could restrict Dubois’ opportunities with other sanctioning bodies, reducing strategic flexibility for the next stage of his career.
Why Dubois walked away
Dubois’ withdrawal is also influenced by a wider pattern in the division. Several heavyweights, including Efe Ajagba and Moses Itauma, had already turned down the Sanchez eliminator earlier in the year. Sanchez remains a risky technician with a style many contenders prefer to avoid without a guaranteed title shot at the end of it.
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Dubois’ promoter signaled that the heavyweight is already planning his next move and is expected to return to action in 2026. This approach suggests his camp is looking at bigger or more meaningful opportunities rather than locking themselves into an eliminator that may not lead to a title fight in the near future.
Sanchez, meanwhile, is expected to get a new opponent for the eliminator, with the IBF likely to approach the next available contender in the rankings.
Dubois stepping away from this fight has reshaped the IBF heavyweight picture again, keeping the world title pathway uncertain but ensuring he maintains control over his next career steps.
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