Frank Sanchez took another step toward becoming the first Cuban heavyweight champion of the world on Saturday night. The 30-year-old fighter battered Carlos Negron en route to a stoppage in the 9th round of the 10-round contest.
“We knew that Negron was going to be tough and he definitely gave it his all. He was tough for nine rounds, but the knockout was inevitable. I have nothing but respect for Negrón, he fought a good fight. I just did what I had to do,” Sanchez said after the fight.
With a win at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the emerging contender has his sights set on one of the best heavyweights in the world — Joe Joyce. Prior to his fight with Negron, Sanchez said that he’d be interested in fighting the winner of last month’s Joe Joyce-Joseph Parker clash and he doubled down when Joyce earned the knockout victory.
“I want Joe Joyce because I feel that the technique and the speed that I have can beat Joe Joyce,” he said earlier this week, per Boxing Scene.
“Joe Joyce, I seen him last time fighting…And I feel that I’m a lot quicker [than Parker], a lot sharper and my punches are a lot harder.”
While Sanchez may be interested in fighting Joyce, it’s unclear if the English heavyweight shares the same interest. After beating Parker earlier this fall, Joyce expressed an interest in fighting Oleksandr Usyk for the unified heavyweight title.
“Usyk, let’s get it on,” he said in a post-fight interview, per DAZN.
In addition, he has also called out Usyk’s last opponent, Anthony Joshua.
“He gets knocked out,” Joyce said about a potential matchup with Joshua.
“He gets bashed up.”
While Joyce has his sights set on current and former champions, it’s unclear if those fights will come to fruition. Waiting in the background, Sanchez is looking to make his mark.
Winner by TKO in the 9th Round: Frank Sanchez!
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