STWF Sports | Nov. 25, 2025 – For Jared Anderson, the road back to heavyweight relevance begins now. Once touted as the heir apparent to America’s heavyweight throne, Anderson’s stock plummeted after a brutal August 2024 loss to Martin Bakole—his first as a professional. The defeat wasn’t merely a setback; it was a public undressing. Bakole floored Anderson three times and forced a fifth-round stoppage that triggered a flood of criticism from pundits who had, until that night, been singing his praises.

But boxing is a sport built on redemption arcs, and Anderson has just secured his chance at one.

The 24-year-old has been officially ordered into an IBF final eliminator against Cuban technician Frank Sanchez, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger for unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

A Golden Opportunity After a Fall From Grace

With several top contenders turning down the assignment—including Efe Ajagba, Filip Hrgovic, Moses Itauma, Richard Torrez Jr., and most recently Daniel Dubois—Anderson, ranked No. 6 by the sanctioning body, has emerged as next in line.

For Anderson, this is the lifeline he needed.

Top Rank confirmed to Sky Sports that they are “open to taking the bout”, signaling confidence that Anderson is mentally ready to restart his climb after last year’s disappointment.

Frank Sanchez, 33, presents no easy path to redemption. At 25-1, his lone loss came via stoppage to Agit Kabayel in May 2024, but the Cuban’s wins—including a notable victory over Ajagba—have earned him a reputation as one of the division’s trickiest movers. Both men need a major statement to reinsert themselves into the heavyweight title picture, making this eliminator a high-stakes crossroads fight.

Why Dubois Turned Down the Eliminator

Dubois’ camp made it clear the eliminator didn’t suit his 2026 plans.

A spokesperson laid out the reasoning:

• Derek Chisora was already named IBF mandatory at the sanctioning body’s convention.

• The Frank Sanchez eliminator would determine the next mandatory after Chisora.

• The IBF is last in line in the rotation of Usyk’s unified belts.

• Accepting the fight could limit Dubois’ opportunities with other sanctioning bodies.

In short, Dubois didn’t believe the risk matched the reward.

“Daniel was proud to be IBF champion,” the spokesperson said, “but the order and fight itself do little for his career and getting him back into position for a world title.”

Dubois expects to return in 2026 with bigger opportunities on the horizon.

That decision opened the door wide for Anderson.

Fury’s Former Sparring Partner Still Has Admirers

Despite the criticism following the Bakole defeat, Anderson still has star believers—none higher than Tyson Fury.

Fury once labeled Anderson “the most talented heavyweight in the world by far,” praising his speed, athleticism and raw power. Their sparring sessions in Las Vegas became the stuff of gym folklore.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum backed up the stories.

“Talk to Tyson—he gives Tyson hell when they work out,” Arum said. “Tyson told me after the Wilder fight that he attributes a great deal of his success to sparring with Anderson.”

Those endorsements may feel distant now, but they underline the natural talent that made Anderson such a highly promoted prospect.

The Stakes Could Not Be Higher

For Anderson, this eliminator is more than a chance to become Usyk’s mandatory—it’s a chance to rewrite his narrative.

Beating a world-class operator like Sanchez would signal that Anderson’s setback was a lesson, not a death sentence. Losing would put him on the long list of heavyweight nearly-men who never lived up to the hype.

Both fighters are desperate, both are dangerous, and both need this win to remain relevant.

And that’s exactly how great heavyweight fights are born.