LIVERPOOL, England – Richard Torrez Jnr has made fighting in the UK a priority after paying the country a visit to attend the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England, last week.
Torrez notwithstanding, the American heavyweight scene has struggled in recent years when compared to the wealth of contenders in the UK.
Moses Itauma, still only 20, is perhaps Britain's brightest star as he's blitzed through recent opposition and cemented himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division following last month's blowout of Dillian Whyte. Fabio Wardley has become a must-watch attraction, showing his vulnerabilities in his recent fights with Frazer Clarke and Justis Huni, while also demonstrating incredible one-punch knockout power. Johnny Fisher was also on a roll before being derailed in May by Dave Allen, but is still currently one of the biggest ticket-sellers in the UK.
Torrez is keeping an eye on all three.
“Man, I'm telling you, I want a UK fight,” Torrez told BoxingScene. “Wardley, Itauma, even Johnny Fisher. The only guy I'm not calling out is Frazer Clarke, that's just because he's my Olympic brother and I appreciate him, and I love the guy. But anyone who wants to fight, I'm more than willing to fight. I really think some of these fights will be huge fights, especially in the UK. Your fans are amazing. It's incredible coming over here. Everyone knows boxing here, and it's incredible to watch, and I would love to come over here and just kind of show my skills a little bit more.”
But if Torrez, 13-0 (11 KOs), could pick only one British heavyweight to fight it would be Itauma whose record also stands at 13-0 (11 KOs). The fight would pair the US’s best young heavyweight against the UK’s and would surely sell on both sides of the Atlantic.
“He's an amazing fighter, and I think that he's really shown his stuff, especially against Dillian Whyte,” said Torrez of Itauma. “It was an incredible performance. So I'm really happy for him. And I think that he's a great guy. But with that being said, I'm 100 per cent confident in my abilities as a fighter as well. I would love to get in the ring [with him]. I think that we'd have some really great fights if one of us jumped across the pond.”
There has been talk since Itauma’s demolition job of Whyte that the he is ready to take on undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Torrez understands the push to test the youngster, but has drawn comparisons to his fellow American Jared Anderson’s shock stoppage defeat to Martin Bakole in August 2024.
“I mean, people were talking about this when it was Jared [Anderson] versus the big man, [Martin] Bakole, too,” Torrez said. “If I was Itauma, I would take the fight [against Usyk] any day. If I'm a heavyweight fighter, I have to firmly believe that I'm the best in the world, that no one can beat me. So I understand why he would accept that fight and other people would too. It's up to the management on that side. I think as fighters, we're like bulldogs on a leash. We’re just going to say, ‘Just let us go,’ and it's up to [our management] to decide what's next for us and who to fight. But yeah, I'd take the fight if I was him too.”
Torrez registered a career-best win over Guido Vianello back in April and is now hoping to push on towards a championship.
“I hope I'm close, man. I feel like I'm nipping at the bit a little bit,” he said. I got Top 10 in the world in a couple different of these sanctioning bodies, and I want it, man. I want it bad. And it's not for the belt, I want the competition. I want to fight someone. I want the hair on the back of my neck to stick up. I want to be ready and eager to go into a fight. That's what I hope for and I yearn for. So with a title shot, I'll get that. I'm excited to see where my career goes with it.”
