In an IBF heavyweight title eliminator Saturday night at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, and live and exclusive on DAZN PPV, Sanchez returned to boxing with a bang, delivering an emphatic second-round knockout of Richard Torrez Jr.

Just when it looked like Torrez Jr.’s hand speed, youth, and pressure were giving Sanchez fits, the latter showed why he’s called ‘The Cuban Flash.’ Seconds after Torrez fired an overhand right, Sanchez countered with a compact right uppercut on the jaw, leaving the American flat on his back in a heap. Sanchez tried to make it back to his feet, but stumbled on his jelly legs.

The stunning knockout puts Sanchez in line for a potential crack at unified heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk, who is headlining tonight's card against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven.

“Usyk,” Sanchez exclaimed live on DAZN, "we’re ready for you whenever you want!"

Sanchez' triumphant return marked his first action since recording a knockout of Ramon Olivas Echeverria in February 2025.

The bout also allowed Sanchez' trainer, Eddy Reynoso, to gain a bit of revenge against fellow trainer Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre. The last time the trainers went head-to-head, it was in September when McIntyre successfully guided Terence Crawford past Canelo Alvarez, who is guided by Reynoso.