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HIGH STAKES FOR DANIEL DUBOIS IN SANCHEZ IBF ELIMINATOR CLASH

Daniel Dubois agrees to a high-stakes IBF final eliminator vs Frank Sanchez. The dangerous bout puts Dubois in line for a lucrative third fight with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

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Daniel Dubois could be lined up for a shock next fight. Photo Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Daniel Dubois has consented to face #4-ranked Frank Sanchez in an IBF final eliminator to choose a mandatory opponent for Oleksandr Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The greatest way for Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) to position himself for a lucrative trilogy matchup with Usyk is to pursue the Usyk Trilogy.

The reported purse for the July 19 fifth-round knockout loss to Usyk by former IBF champion Dubois was $71 million. Therefore, it seems sense that he would be prepared to take a chance on the Cuban Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) in the hopes of earning a third huge payout versus Usyk. Taking that chance is much better than taking a different route.

The Men Who Rejected Sanchez

Today, Sky Sports Boxing announced that 28-year-old Dubois has consented to play Frank Sanchez in an IBF elimination match. The risky bout against Sanchez was declined by these three well-known heavyweights:
Itauma, Moses
Torrez, Richard Jr.
Ajagba Efe

Itauma's decision not to fight Frank Sanchez was also unexpected, although it is possible that he was too skilled of a boxer for his level.

Cuban: The Danger Zone

It shows how desperate Dubois is to take on Sanchez, a boxer who is being shunned like the plague. The Cuban is one of the division's most dangerous fighters because of his lightning-fast hand speed, power, and combo punching. The fact that Frank was battling an ailing knee was a crucial issue, even though Agit Kabayel stopped him in the seventh round on May 18, 2024.

Should Dubois lose again...  

However, Sanchez struck Kabayel's head repeatedly, and Kabayel remained strong enough to withstand the blows. It is difficult to imagine Dubois withstanding Sanchez's strength for a long time without giving up, considering his occasionally feeble punch resistance. A defeat in a knockout match might mean Dubois's career is over.  

On July 19, in front of a large crowd at London's Wembley Stadium, Dubois suffered his third knockout loss in the last five years as he lost to Usyk via fifth-round KO.  

‘Dynamite’ Daniel's performance from his first defeat to Oleksandr on August 26, 2023, showed no improvement. Daniel was stopped in the ninth round of that fight. Actually, it appeared that Dubois did worse in his rematch with Usyk.  

Some boxing fans believe that Usyk may have contributed to his defeat by hosting a little party at his house on the day of the fight. Still, from the moment Dubois entered the ring, he seemed to be mentally absent. He had the blank expression of a soldier in a stupor during battle.  

On February 22, 2025, in Tijuana, Mexico, eight-year veteran Frank Sanchez defeated Ramon Olivas Echeverria via knockout in the third round.  

RED BULL STAY CALM, COOL, AND CONFIDENT DESPITE MCLAREN MOMENTUM

Red Bull's Laurent Mekies denies their 2025 car focus is due to 2026 PU concerns, calling it a strategic choice to improve development tools. As Lando Norris retakes the title lead, the F1 championship battle intensifies.

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Red Bull Unfazed by McLaren Rise - COURTESY/PHOTO

In Mexico, McLaren CEO Andrea Stella implied that Red Bull's choice to continue working on its 2025 vehicle was a reflection of a lack of clarity surrounding the upcoming Red Bull-Ford power unit.

However, that notion has been rejected by team manager Laurent Mekies and Dr. Helmut Marko.

Mekies stated it has nothing to do with 2026.

"We would have too many unanswered questions going into 2026 if we did not get the most out of this car by the end of the season. We made the decision to spend more money on this vehicle in order to fix its shortcomings and increase its speed.

It greatly increases our confidence in our 2026 tools, strategies, and techniques. Yes, the new project will require less time and effort, but it was a deliberate choice. Performance has nothing to do with it.

According to the Frenchman, the team's strategy is centered on comprehension rather than risk. "We think there will be a net benefit, so we are doing this. We can apply our methods to 2026 and are now verifying them. If it led to difficulties, we would not do it.

Yes, there is a cost, but we think it is worthwhile.

Red Bull's momentum was halted by Mexico as Norris resumed his winning ways, despite Verstappen's recent race surge. Despite replacing an unproductive Oscar Piastri as the championship leader, Verstappen actually cut his overall lead to 36 points.

Norris' resounding win was a welcome change for Stella. Verstappen is still a competitor, but we have the advantage in the next races, he stated.

We have demonstrated that we have a car that can win races and, in some situations, dominate, which has boosted confidence in the championship.

This is the most crucial element that permits Lando and Oscar to compete for the Drivers' Championship, the Italian engineer continued. It has to do with competitiveness, not mathematics. Although the previous races in Austin, Baku, Singapore, and Monza were challenging, we have now once again proven our strength.

In Mexico, Piastri's decline worsened, but Stella stayed positive. Oscar claimed that despite losing some points to Verstappen, he gained a lot of knowledge this past weekend. To make sure you are competitive in every situation during the last stretch, you make that kind of investment. We are stronger and more hopeful when we leave Mexico.

Marko of Red Bull concurred that the battle is still open. "It is no longer assured that one team dominates at a circuit, and there are still 116 points available," he remarked.

We still have a shot. Since Max is the center of attention, I hope the two McLarens stick to their fair play policy.

Verstappen's pace in Mexico, according to Marko, was more powerful than it seemed. In race trim, we knew we would perform better. Max compared himself to a hunting hound, saying that once he scents anything, all else vanishes and he attacks.

But at McLaren, the focus is already shifting from gearboxes to mentalities. Now at the top of the rankings, Norris is under increased scrutiny after the Mexican fans jeered him.

"The question now is whether Norris can take use of his second chance as title leader - or if things will turn unstable again," former Formula One driver Timo Glock told Sky Deutschland. Has he comprehended why the pressure was too severe for him earlier, why he couldn't drive freely back then?

The odds are on his side if he has and has figured out how to deal with it, Glock continued. It is easier said than done, though. It is a completely different picture once the helmet is on and the pressure increases.

JANNIK SINNER BREAKS SILENCE ON POSSIBLE DAVIS CUP REVERSAL

Jannik Sinner is standing firm on his decision to skip the 2025 Davis Cup, showing frustration at repeated questions. The Italian star prioritises his off-season and 2026 Australian Open preparation over defending the title.

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Jannik Sinner Addresses Buzz Around His Davis Cup Future - PHOTO: EPA

When Jannik Sinner's decision to skip the 2025 Davis Cup Finals next month was brought up again, he appeared a little miffed.

Top players commit to competing in the finals because of its scheduling, which runs from November 18 to November 23. They would only have a little more than a month off until 2026 starts if they played until late November.

During Team Italy's championship runs in 2023 and 2024, Sinner was their lucky charm. The nation's remarkable recent supremacy in the sport was established by the women's victories in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2024 and 2025.

Even if the 2025 finals will be placed in Bologna, Italy's chances of winning the Davis Cup for a third time in a row appear to be slim after Sinner declared he would not participate.

The four-time Grand Slam champion said he had previously won two Davis Cups with his Italian colleagues and that he planned to use the additional week to get ready for the Australian Open in 2026.

Nicola Pietrangeli, a fellow Italian legend and two-time French Open champion, was not pleased with Sinner's choice or his justification for it. He believes that modern players are more concerned with money than with patriotism and that it was disrespectful to their nation.

Sinner stated that while people have the right to their opinions, he did not wish to contribute anything further in reaction to the criticism. It is possible that the ATP world No. 2 assumed the topic would be abandoned at that point.

Rather, a reporter at the 2025 Paris Masters questioned Sinner about the possibility of changing his mind. It is still mathematically conceivable to finish as the year-end No. 1 because Sinner had stated that it would be impossible before Alcaraz's surprise defeat by Cameron Norrie in Paris.

Compared to his response to Pietrangeli's and others' criticism, Sinner's response was even more succinct and direct. The 24-year-old reiterated that he had nothing else to say and indicated the choice had been made.

"No, the choice has been made. However, I covered everything a few days ago.

Sinner's frustration with the inquiries surrounding his Davis Cup selection was evident. Even though it makes some sense, missing a home team event is an unavoidable consequence of being a top player.

Recently, Sinner criticised the four Grand Slams.


Sinner was irritated with the four Grand Slams in a different interview for not doing more to address concerns about prize money and other advantages, including healthcare and pensions, that were brought up by elite players earlier this year.

The Wimbledon champion this year expressed frustration that the major events wanted to address some other concerns before fully interacting with players and said that initially, encouraging conversations had not resulted in any follow-up steps.

Twenty elite athletes, 10 from the ATP and 10 from the WTA, wrote to the Grand Slams earlier this season to request a larger share of the money made to be distributed as prize money and other benefits.

It will be interesting to watch if the Grand Slams address those issues and make adjustments in 2026.

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