Eight months after going to the scorecards for the first time as a pro, Richard Torrez Jnr enjoyed his quickest night at the office in nearly two years.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalist made quick work of Czech Republic’s Tomas Salek, whom he stopped at 2 minutes, 45 seconds of the opening round of their heavyweight contest. Action was one-way traffic for Torrez, 13-0 (11 KOs), in their ESPN Knockout/Top Rank Classics FAST channel preliminary bout Saturday evening from Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Salek, 23-8 (14 KOs), never had a chance to get his offense untracked – not a surprise, as many experts saw the bout as a potential mismatch. Torrez didn’t take anything for granted, as the 26-year-old southpaw from Tulare, California, remained measured even as his power shots landed with alarming regularity.
A sweeping right hook by Torrez was the most damaging blow. The shot immediately drew blood from Salek’s nose, at which point time was called by the referee. Salek was examined by the ringside physician; his reaction of “Ow, ow ow” spoke volumes as he reacted poorly to the doctor squeezing his nostrils. The fight was stopped soon thereafter.
Salek’s first career trip outside of Europe resulted in a third defeat within his past four starts.
Meanwhile, Torrez picked up his first stoppage victory since last December 7 and his briefest affair since December 2023, when he needed just 139 seconds to take out Donald Haynesworth.
Saturday’s bout came eight months after Torrez went all 10 rounds in a unanimous decision victory over Italy’s Guido Vianello on April 5 in Las Vegas.
The early ending provided bonus airtime for Julian Montalvo to make his way to the telecast.
Original plans called for the 17-year-old Las Vegas native to be featured via highlights. Even with the unexpected airtime, he didn’t need very long to take out Nicolas Patron, 3-3 (1 KOs).
A pair of knockdowns were enough to put Patron away at 2 minutes, 2 seconds into the first round of their junior lightweight meeting.
Montalvo, 5-0 (4 KOs), struck quickly, flooring La Paz’s Patron with a right hand and follow-up left hook. Patron rose to his feet and was set to continue but was quickly sent back to the canvas courtesy of a left hook to the body. The sequence was enough to produce the full 10 count to provide Montalvo with his fifth win since turning pro in March.
Earlier in the evening, San Luis Postol’s Jorge Ascanio, 15-1-1 (9 KOs), picked up his fourth win of the year in a 10-round split decision over previously unbeaten Jose Amaro, 14-1-1 (7 KOs). One judge had the bout 95-94 for Amaro, of Mazatlan, Mexico, overruled by scores of 95-94 and 96-93 for Ascanio, who has now won eight in a row.
All three bouts came in supporting capacity to the Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai WBO featherweight title fight.
