Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Predictions: America’s heavyweight hope eyes Usyk

World ranked heavyweights Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr bring some common sense to their division on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven card this Saturday, May 23. The event takes place at the Pyramids of Giza with DAZN PPV and Ultimate broadcasting proceedings live.

Read on for my Sanchez vs Torrez Jr predictions ahead of this IBF heavyweight eliminator.

Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Odds

Sanchez is the underdog at 16/5 for this one, despite suffering just one defeat in 26 pro fights. 14-0 Torrez is marketed at 1/4 while the draw is priced at 14/1.

Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Fight Preview

This fight will have a big say in the future of the heavyweight division. The IBF have crowned this as a final eliminator for their portion of Usyk’s heavyweight championship of the world. With the legendary Ukrainian already relinquishing his WBO title rather than fighting either Joseph Parker or Fabio Wardley, there is a real case to be made for the victor here having a clear run at the vacant belt should Usyk’ demur on fighting them.

With Usyk fighting a kickboxer in the evening’s main event, it is up to Sanchez and Torrez to fly the flag for genuine heavyweight competition. This is an interesting match-up between a fighter once tipped for the top and an opponent who is now the recipient of such hype.

Sanchez is known as ‘The Cuban Flash’. When it works, the 33-year-old’s style lives up to the name. Such as his slick destruction of Junior Fa or his counter-punching masterclass against Efe Ajagba. When it doesn’t, it can be a grim watch. Avoid his pedestrian decision win over Christian Hammer at all costs.

But whether you appreciated the subtleties of his style or were put off by his sluggish moments, most agreed that Sanchez’s skills would put him in front of a world heavyweight champion one day. But German dangerman Agit Kabayel slammed that door shut in Frank’s face in May 2024.

Kabayel capitalised on Sanchez’s lack of speed with a come-forward display of precision punching. The Leverkusen man finished the Cuban in the seventh round of a fight Frank was barely in. There were whispers of a knee injury hampering Sanchez’s performance, but anyone who has watched him would recognise the occasional plodding he has been partial to down the years.

You don’t want to be fighting Richard Torrez Jr at anything less than full-speed. The likable Olympic silver medalist is at the front of the American heavyweight queue. Deontay Wilder looks finished. Jarrell Miller is more famous for his hairpiece than his fights. Andy Ruiz Jr has fought just three times since shocking the world against Anthony Joshua in 2019. The USA needs a heavyweight hero. Torrez is aiming to be just that.

The signs are good. The charismatic 26-year-old has mainly beaten journeymen and gatekeepers. But a dominant win over Italian spoiler Guido Vianello showed confidence and maturity married to poise and aggression. Giving up four inches in height to the 6’6 upset king, Torrez stuck the landing with some hammering shots across the ropes, beating the spirit out of big Guido.

Sanchez is a different proposition, however. The Cuban is the best boxer Torrez has fought since the Tokyo 2020 games. While the man who beat him, Bakhodir Jalolov, has underwhelmed as a pro with laboured displays against poor opposition, Torrez has thrilled crowds on Top Rank undercards during his rise.

Sanchez will look to blunt that edge. While he has engaged in some absorbing contests, we know Frank is comfortable with making a fight ugly. As Torrez stalks from the southpaw stance, I can see Sanchez smothering his work and bringing the pace down to a crawl to impose his will on the fight. A true clash of styles. This is the real world class heavyweight clash on the Egypt card.

Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Full Card

Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven

Jack Catterall vs Shakhram Giyasov

Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr

Hamzah Sheeraz vs Alem Begic

Mizuki Hiruta vs Mai Soliman

Basem Mamdouh vs Jamar Talley

Sultan Almohammed vs Dedy Imprax

Omar Hikal vs Ali Sserunkuma

Mohamed Mabrouk Yehya vs Michael Kalyalya

Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Prediction

Torrez is capable of replicating the manner in which Kabayel overwhelmed Sanchez. The American is not as steel-sharpened as the experienced Agit, but I think he can tear a page out of the German’s unblemished copybook.

Torrez is relentless and he’ll need to be. The Olympian should keep the pressure on, ducking under that magnetic left jab of Sanchez, not allowing the Cuban to dictate the timbre of the contest.

If Torrez avoids the lead hand, he can counter with rights over the top and punishing short lefts to build up a lead. If he does that, I think Torrez can start to overwhelm Sanchez late to pick up a 13th knockout win in his 15th fight. If you fancy Torrez in rounds 10-12 then 6/1 is your price.

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