Some established heavyweights view Michael Hunter as too much of a high-risk, low-reward type of opponent.
You could categorize Frank Sanchez the same way. Sanchez’s solution is for them to fight each other.
“I’ve asked for Mike Hunter and all I’ve heard is crickets from Eddie Hearn and Hunter,” Sanchez told BoxingScene.com. “Eddie says he has a problem, that he pays fighters too much and they don’t want to fight anyone. Well, with what he pays, I will fight anyone. Like I’ve said previously, give me Hunter, Joe Parker, Efe Ajagba, Junior Fa, anyone. I will prove my ability in a big fight.”
The Cuban-born Sanchez (15-0, 11 KOs) easily out-boxed Philadelphia’s Joey Dawejko (20-8-4, 11 KOs) in his last fight, a 10-rounder March 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old Sanchez is ranked 11th by the WBO, but Las Vegas’ Hunter (18-1-1, 12 KOs) is rated fourth by the IBF, seventh by the WBO, eighth by the WBA and 10th by the WBC.
Hunter fought to a draw with former WBA champ Alexander Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) in his last fight, a 12-rounder December 7 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
New Zealand’s Parker (27-2, 21 KOs) is a former WBO champion who is the second-rated challenger for Anthony Joshua’s WBO belt. Nigeria’s Ajagba (13-0, 11 KOs) and New Zealand’s Fa (19-0, 10 KOs) are ranked in the top 15 by multiple sanctioning organizations and thus would offer Sanchez chances to earn better positions in those ratings.
“We will see what happens, but I want to step up,” Sanchez said. “I have full confidence in my team, and my team has full confidence in me. Every day in Cuba, I dreamed about one day becoming heavyweight champion of the world. Now I am here in the U.S., training with the best trainer in the world, and I have the best managers and promoters. It is a dream come true.”
Sanchez is trained by Eddy Reynoso, who also works with Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia, Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oscar Valdez.
The skillful Sanchez is co-managed by Mike Borao and Guadalupe Valencia. The former cruiserweight also is promoted by Warriors Boxing and aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions.
As PBC puts together its summer schedule, Sanchez hopes to return to the ring against a ranked opponent.
“I have already fought on major TV with PBC, and I feel very blessed,” Sanchez said. “But the job is not finished. I want to prove that I am the best and become the first heavyweight champion in the history of Cuba. That is the reason I am anxious to fight other top contenders and separate myself. I will become champion for my family and everyone who believed in me.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.