The 2020 Olympian Rohan Polanco is looking to make a big statement in an old weight class.
Polanco, from the Dominican Republic, turned professional at welterweight and had a run at junior welterweight, but to start 2025 he will look to campaign for a world title back at 147lbs.
The 26 year old enters Friday’s eight-round fight against Puerto Rico’s Juan Carlos Torres at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on the undercard of Denys Berinchyk-Keyshawn Davis, off the back of successive knockouts.
“It was a more intense training camp,” Polanco said. He stopped Marcelino Nicolas Lopez in September. Since then, he has been waiting. The difficulty for him is the same as for a lot of fighters. He represents a high-risk, low reward opponent. He is a good boxer who is a puncher, and who is still little-known.
“After Friday I doubt you are going to see anybody calling him out,” said Carl Moretti of Top Rank. “He is going to have to do it the old-fashioned way. Stay active, move up the rankings, take care of business in the ring, and eventually earn a shot in a wide-open division.”
Polanco credits his trainer Hector Bermudez with helping him adapt to the professional ranks. Polanco, who had an admirable amateur career throws, with punches with conviction.
“My trainer, Hector Bermudez is very intelligent,” the 14-0 (9 KOs) fighter said. “He is always teaching me how to adapt to professional boxing because I had such a long career as an amateur.
“The plan is to keep winning so I can keep getting ranked higher until I get a world title opportunity. That is what we are looking for.”