Frank Sanchez vs Efe Ajagba 2 - IBF Eliminator ordered

[joshj909]

https://www.skysports.com/amp/boxing/ne ... ba-rematch

So this has been ordered. Do they both take it and who wins the rematch?

Ajagba has looked way more impressive since his hype train was derailed by Sanchez (at least we saw the end of BoxTune). Sanchez was unexciting to watch but looked pretty good in every fight except the Kabayel fight, where it looked clear that something was off. So following his surgery, can he run it back to get the win?

[Perkin Warbeck]

Ajagba will win this. He's improved since the last fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ajagba will win this. He's improved since the last fight.

And Sanchez has barely done anything.

Efe has more of a future here

[KiwiRider]

Ajagba will win this. He's improved since the last fight.

And I think age has started to catch up with Sanchez.
His timing seems slightly off, one of the sure signs of father time.

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF-ordered Efe Ajagba-Frank Sanchez rematch heads to purse bid

The IBF-ordered Efe Ajagba-Frank Sanchez rematch will be made available to the highest bidder.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the abovementioned heavyweight title elimination contest is scheduled for an August 5 purse bid hearing. The designation was warranted after the two sides failed to reach terms during their assigned negotiation period.

All involved parties can still attempt to come to terms prior to the start of the purse bid.

Ajagba, 20-1-1 (14 KOs) is the IBF’s number three contender, one spot ahead of the number four ranked Sanchez, 25-1 (18 KOs). The number one IBF slot is vacant and can only be filled by winning a final elimination contest.

Should the fight move forward, the winner will become the IBF mandatory challenger to current undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs). However, there will be a wait for the opportunity, as the WBO has already ordered a title consolidation contest between Usyk and Joseph Parker, the latter who holds the WBO interim title.

Sanchez, 25-1 (18 KOs), previously defeated Ajagba via unanimous decision in October 2021.

The win was believed to put the Cuban-born heavyweight on a path towards a major title. It never came close to transpiring, however. Sanchez made it to a WBC title eliminator against Agit Kabayel and suffered a seventh-round stoppage last May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Just one win has followed for Sanchez – a third-round knockout in a confidence-restoring mismatch on February 22 in Tijuana, Mexico. He was then stuck in a holding pattern when the IBF ordered him to next face Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic, 18-1 (14 KOs). The matchup was put in play in April, but talks never advanced and the matter was sent to a purse bid hearing.

The session was twice delayed and canceled outright, once Hrgovic instead agreed to next face David Adeleye, 14-1 (13 KOs) on August 16 in Riyadh.

Ajagba, 20-1-1 (14 KOs) re-entered the mix even though he is coming off a draw in his previous outing.

The 2016 Olympian for Nigeria – who is now based in the greater Houston, Texas area – seemingly did enough to edge Martin Bakole in their May 3 meeting in Riyadh. Two of the three judges disagreed, which resulted in a majority draw.

Their bout was originally pegged as an IBF eliminator. Sanctioning was removed, however, when Bakole accepted a last-minute opportunity to challenge Parker, against whom he was stopped in the second round of their February 22 clash.

Ajagba and Bakole still moved forward with their fight, albeit for lesser stakes.

Hrgovic’s refusal to move forward with a fight versus Sanchez opened the door for Ajagba to move within one win of title contention. He also now has a chance to avenge his lone career defeat.

Sanchez’s win over Ajagba remains the highlight of his career, as he was stalled out of the title

per IBF rules covering purse bids and sanctioned title fights and eliminators, Sanchez and Hrgovic are required to commit to the ordered eliminator to avoid losing their current top five rankings. Failure to move forward would result in the offending party dropping out of the top ten and no longer eligible to participate in an IBF-sanctioned fight for at least six months.

[joshj909]

Should the fight move forward, the winner will become the IBF mandatory challenger to current undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs). However, there will be a wait for the opportunity, as the WBO has already ordered a title consolidation contest between Usyk and Joseph Parker, the latter who holds the WBO interim title.

I don't think this is the case and the media always jump to this conclusion. The IBF have never stated that this is a final eliminator, they just say eliminator which they use to decide who will face off to get the final eliminator.

per IBF rules covering purse bids and sanctioned title fights and eliminators, Sanchez and Hrgovic are required to commit to the ordered eliminator to avoid losing their current top five rankings. Failure to move forward would result in the offending party dropping out of the top ten and no longer eligible to participate in an IBF-sanctioned fight for at least six months.

In the words of the article, if they refuse, they will lose their ranking. However, Chisora is ranked number 2 but hasn't lost his ranking. That's because the winner of this will face Chisora, who had an IBF eliminator against Wallin.

How is a boxing media site consistently this stupid? Sky and others do it all the time too.

[Ruthless-RKO]

In the words of the article, if they refuse, they will lose their ranking. However, Chisora is ranked number 2 but hasn't lost his ranking. That's because the winner of this will face Chisora, who had an IBF eliminator against Wallin.

How is a boxing media site consistently this stupid? Sky and others do it all the time too.

IBF always leave #1 and #2 vacant don't they? then fill them with whoever is ready for a final eliminator.

So Chisora has his spot. Although he wants a world title fight, as it's his last.

[joshj909]

In the words of the article, if they refuse, they will lose their ranking. However, Chisora is ranked number 2 but hasn't lost his ranking. That's because the winner of this will face Chisora, who had an IBF eliminator against Wallin.

How is a boxing media site consistently this stupid? Sky and others do it all the time too.

IBF always leave #1 and #2 vacant don't they? then fill them with whoever is ready for a final eliminator.

So Chisora has his spot. Although he wants a world title fight, as it's his last.

Yes, as far as I've ever noticed.

Maybe they'll make it an interim title...

[Ruthless-RKO]

Yes, as far as I've ever noticed.

Maybe they'll make it an interim title...

It's very rare the IBF make interim titles. But they have done it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The IBF announced that the Efe Ajagba vs. Frank Sanchez purse bid has been postponed until further notice.

[mickgw]

I have AJAGBA winning this rematch, SANCHEZ has barely fought the last few years, while AJAGBA has eeked out wins over 2 guys i rate as above average, SHAW & VIANELLO, And father time is catching up to SANCHEZ, And with AJAGBA being the youngest man and improving pretty sure he gets the win here.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sampson Lewkowicz successfully outbid Top Rank for the right to stage an IBF heavyweight final eliminator between no. 3 Efe Ajagba and no. 4 Frank Sanchez, claiming the rematch with a $302,000 offer. As the higher-ranked fighter, Ajagba will be the beneficiary of a 60-40 split.

Efe will be on $181,200.. will he get out of bed for that?? and Sanchez on $120,800

[CMCanavessi]

Will end the same way as the previous one

[joshj909]

If Sanchez's leg recovery hasn't got his footwork back to before then he might get caught. He was too quick for Ajagba the first time but was slow and not very evasive against Kabayel, partially due to the leg injury. I don't see Ajagba winning any other way.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

[joshj909]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

If Sanchez is fully fit, this could be a very fast fight for heavyweight in terms of the speed of the two guys.

[tiny_acres]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

Moses can win this fight but I doubt they risk him in this fight. High risk zero reward.
Same goes for Richard Torrez.

[keithmoonhangover]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

Moses can win this fight but I doubt they risk him in this fight. High risk zero reward.
Same goes for Richard Torrez.

Sanchez is there for the taking. His legs are gone.

[londonwar]

all the ejagba fans have ejagba winning this.

[joshj909]

all the ejagba fans have ejagba winning this.

Ajagba winning this from the sofa at home while Sanchez fights someone else

[Ruthless-RKO]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

Moses can win this fight but I doubt they risk him in this fight. High risk zero reward.
Same goes for Richard Torrez.

Moses Itauma has rejected an IBF final eliminator fight against Frank Sanchez that would have led to a world title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk

[Finkel]

Everyone is ducking Sanchez again.
Though, to be fair, Sanchez only has one loss and that coming to Kabayel, it would have been a bit of a risky step up for Itauma

[joshj909]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

Moses can win this fight but I doubt they risk him in this fight. High risk zero reward.
Same goes for Richard Torrez.

Moses Itauma has rejected an IBF final eliminator fight against Frank Sanchez that would have led to a world title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk

Quack quack

[gregregegg]

How the fvck is Sanchez in position for an eliminator…

Hasn’t beat a top 50 in 4 years… got stopped on his only fight with anyone decent in that period…

[tiny_acres]

Efe pulls out.

Chances are Moses Itauma might come in

Moses can win this fight but I doubt they risk him in this fight. High risk zero reward.
Same goes for Richard Torrez.

Moses Itauma has rejected an IBF final eliminator fight against Frank Sanchez that would have led to a world title challenge against Oleksandr Usyk

Saw that coming. Now let's see if Torrez takes the bout