Dubois Takes Gamble As Sanchez Fight Hits IBF Purse Bid

#3-ranked IBF contender Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) and #5 Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) had a purse bid scheduled for November 13th after they failed to reach a deal for an IBF heavyweight title eliminator.

Desperate Move From Dubois

It’s unclear which of these two is the one that got in the way of a deal being reached. Either way, it’s going to a purse bid this month on November 13th, and we’ll see what’s what.

The Ring reported the news of Dubois-Sanchez going the purse bid route. Dubois’ promoters at Queensberry would have to be seen as having an excellent chance of winning the purse bid, given their deep pockets.

It’s a desperate move for the recently knocked-out former IBF champion Dubois, 28, to take this fight with the Cuban Sanchez in hopes of getting a quick trilogy match with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

‘DDD’ Dubois was knocked out in the fifth round by Oleksandr in their rematch on July 19th, 2025, at Wembley Stadium in London, England. It was the second time in the last two years that Usyk had KO’d Dubois.

With the $71 million purse that Dubois received for the rematch with Usyk last summer on July 19th, it’s understandable why he’s willing to take the risky IBF eliminator against the speedy-handed Frank Sanchez. Realistically, there’s no one else that Dubois can fight that will give him the kind of money that he can make in a third fight with Usyk.

Usyk Likely to Vacate Anyway

It could be a wasted effort on Dubois’ part to take the fight against Sanchez, as Usyk, 38, would have no reason to fight him a third time. If the IBF were to order the fight, it’s possible that Oleksandr would vacate the belt rather than defend against a guy he already knocked out twice. The boxing public would view a trilogy match between them as wretched.

Sanchez Brings Dangerous Speed

Dubois could live to regret choosing to fight Frank Sanchez, because with his hand speed, power, and combination punching, there’s an excellent chance that he will knock him out. If the focus is entirely on landing that third fight with Usyk, Daniel has to take the risk. It’s highly unlikely Dubois will ever get another fight against Usyk at this point. When you’ve been knocked out twice by a fighter, there’s no interest in a third fight.

That would be Dubois’ second consecutive KO loss, and it would be a signal that his career as a major player in the division is at an end. He would still be quite wealthy from the dough that he’s made in his two fights against Usyk, and his clash against Anthony Joshua on September 21, 2024.

Frank Sanchez was stopped in the seventh round a year ago by Agit Kabayel on May 18, 2024. Sanchez fought with a preexisting right knee injury and was wearing a brace during the fight. Kabayel took advantage of the situation by leaning on him during the clinches, and that quickly led to the KO.