Coming up in late March on the Sebastian Fundora-Keith Thurman PPV undercard, heavyweight Frank Sanchez will battle rising star Richard Torrez in the co-feature. And, two other intriguing rising fighters will also be on the show.
Three intriguing bouts were confirmed for the four-fight PBC on Prime Pay-Per-View e Saturday, March 28, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas headlined by WBC junior middleweight champ Sebastian "The Towering Inferno" Fundora against former unified welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman.
The compelling co-main event is in the heavyweight division, as IBF top contender Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez squares off against unbeaten U.S. Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez in an IBF heavyweight final eliminator for their title. With a mandatory title shot hanging in the balance, both fighters enter knowing that victory could propel them into championship contention.
Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) can put himself back into the world title mix with a victory on March 28th The 33-year-old worked his way up the rankings while winning his first 24 bouts, including a dominant unanimous decision over the then, unbeaten Efe Ajagba in October 2021. That cemented his contender status, but Sanchez challenged another undefeated foe in May 2024 in hard hitting, Agit Kabayel.
The bout was stopped in round seven after Sanchez sufferied a knee injury early in the fight and could not continue. Recovered from the injury, Sanchez returned to the ring last February with a TKO of Ramon Olivas Echeverria.
“A victory on March 28 moves me one step closer to being the IBF’s mandatory challenger and realizing my dream of becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world,” said Sanchez in the announcement. “Torrez is a strong fighter who’s hungry to prove himself, but I will win this fight in grand fashion for my great Cuban and Latino fans.”
As for 26-year-old Torrez (14-0, 12 KOs), he has been perfect as a pro following a sensational amateur career that was capped by earning an Olympic silver medal, and which also featured triumphs over Jared Anderson and Dainier Pero. A native of Tulare, California, Torrez has steadily increased his competition as a pro, with his first notable triumph coming over the then undefeated Brandon Moore via fifth-round TKO in May 2024. After adding wins later in 2024 over Joey Dawejko and Isaac Munoc Gutierrez,
Torrez defeated another notable name last April as he bested Italian Olympian Guido Vianello by unanimous decision. Most recently, Torrez earned a first-round stoppage of Tomas Salek last November. He is clearly the most active and promising U.S. heavyweight contender at the moment,
“Frank is skilled, technical and dangerous, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for,” said Torrez in the release. “Great fighters don’t avoid tests; they run toward them. I’ve prepared for every moment of this fight, and when the bell rings, I’m coming to take over.”
Also featured on the stacked lineup, undefeated and highly regarded Cuban middleweight Yoenli Hernandez, (9-0, 8 KOs) meets seasoned former U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha in a 10-round showdown that pits rising talent against veteran experience. Hernandez aims to continue his ascent, while Gausha looks to reassert himself among the division’s elite.
Kicking off the pay-per-view, exciting young standout, 22 year old Elijah Garcia, (17-1, 13 KOs) of Phoenix, AZ, takes on battle-tested super middleweight contender Kevin Newman II in a 10-round opener. Garcia showed heart, getting off the canvas in his last bout with Gausha to earn a close decision win.
With each bout carrying significant divisional ramifications, the March 28th PPV promises a night of elite competition and high drama in Las Vegas.