BoxingScene confirmed that the International Boxing
Federation (IBF) has directed both fighters’ camps to begin negotiations for
the bout, which will determine the sanctioning body’s next mandatory challenger
for the heavyweight crown.
Ajagba (20-1-1, 14 KOs), currently ranked No. 3 by the
IBF, sits one place ahead of Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) in the latest standings.
British veteran Derek Chisora holds the No. 2 spot, though he is reportedly in
talks for a trilogy fight against interim WBO champion Joseph Parker later this
year. The top spot remains vacant and can only be filled through a final
eliminator.
This ordered rematch gives Ajagba an opportunity to
avenge the only loss of his professional career—a unanimous decision defeat to
Sanchez in October 2021. For Sanchez, it is a chance to return to the title
picture after a period of inactivity and uncertainty.
The current IBF champion, Daniel Dubois (22-2, 21
KOs), is set to defend his belt in a high-stakes rematch against unified
heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) on July 19 at Wembley Stadium,
with the undisputed title on the line.
Sanchez was previously positioned for a final
eliminator against Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs), but talks collapsed
and a scheduled purse bid was eventually canceled. Hrgovic instead opted to
fight David Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ajagba re-emerged in the eliminator picture following
a majority draw against Martin Bakole on May 3 in Riyadh. Despite many
believing the Nigerian had done enough to win, two of the three judges scored
the bout even. That fight had initially been sanctioned as an IBF eliminator
before Bakole took a short-notice bout against Joseph Parker in February, where
he was knocked out in the second round.
Meanwhile, Sanchez suffered a significant setback in
May when he was stopped in the seventh round by Germany’s Agit Kabayel. He
bounced back three months later with a third-round knockout of Ramon Olivas in
Tijuana.
According to IBF regulations, both Sanchez and Ajagba
must proceed with the ordered eliminator or risk losing their top-five
rankings. A failure to comply would see the fighter removed from the IBF top 10
and barred from participating in any IBF-sanctioned bout for a minimum of six
months. Additionally, the fighters are prohibited from taking on any other
opponents while negotiations are ongoing.
A date and venue for the Sanchez-Ajagba rematch are
expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.
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