In five years, Richard Torrez Jnr has transformed from surprise Olympic silver medalist to being one victory away from being next in line for a heavyweight title.
Directed by Top Rank’s Hall of Fame matchmakers Brad Goodman and Bruce Trampler, Torrez, 14-0 (12 KOs), ventures to Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza to meet Cuba’s Frank Sanchez in an IBF title eliminator that will leave the winner in position to meet three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
“It’s an incredible opportunity and a great way to showcase where I’m at,” Torrez told BoxingScene. “Frank Sanchez is a formidable opponent known throughout the boxing community, and I think this fight will cement where I’m supposed to be and solidify that I am one of the top heavyweights.”
Torrez’s new trainer, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, assesses that the 33-year-old Sanchez, 25-1 (18 KOs), is “on his last legs” after requiring a postponement of the bout due to right knee soreness.
The delay has taken Sanchez to a rare event organized by Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh, creating a novelty main event topped by Usyk’s unified title defense versus kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.
“I’ve never experienced the pyramids, so to be able to go there and fight is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Torrez said. “I’m taking this in stride, loving every second of it and grateful for the opportunity. I want to show everyone what I can do.
“They asked me if I wanted to fight by the pyramids, and I said, ‘Yeah.’ They can put me in a cage, in a bubble, whatever they want.”
Torrez has risen through the rankings deliberately, moving from romps in Arizona over outmatched Joey Dawejko and Isaac Munoz Gutierrez to a convincing triumph over fellow heavyweight prospect Guido Vianello that showed he was ready for a step up.
Matchmaker Trampler said Torrez could’ve been steered past Sanchez, but wanted to test himself against a bona fide contender who’s only lost to WBC No. 1 contender Agit Kabayel.
“Richard challenges himself, and that aspect of himself is going to make him a winner,” Trampler said. “Ricard’s a very intelligent guy. He knows what he’s doing. He could've fought lesser opponents to get to the title.
“We [Top Rank] don’t know if he’ll win or if he’ll make it, but just as lots of people have questioned [Top Rank’s 23-year-old unified 154lbs champion] Xander Zayas about his fights and taking on ‘Boots’ Ennis, when a fighter tells you he wants to fight a certain guy, you've got to let him.
“Oscar [De La Hoya] was the same way. When the bell; rings for round oe, we'll find out. Nobody’s going to dismiss Richard Torrez. He’s got credentials. So ring the bell.”
Torrez noticed the symmetry to it all, remembering he defeated another Cuban Dainier Pero to guarantee an Olympic medal.
“If everything goes to plan, I’ll have the opportunity to fight for a belt, which is surreal,” Torrez said. “I’ve taken my fights in stride, even back to the Olympics… I love the competition, love the sport. The accolades that come with it are icing on the cake.”
It’s not as much about studying Sanchez as it about sharpening his own skills.
“I’ve watched him, and try to find out his tendencies, but at the end of the day, I’m just trying to be the best boxer I can be,” Torrez said. “I come with the mindset that if I come to the ring in the best shape I can be, in the best mindset, it’s going to be hard for anyone to beat me. I’m not just a fighter who can beat Frank Sanchez, it’s about going in there to be the best fighter I can be.
“Saying yes to all the fights that come my way, I’m a firm believer I’m the best in the world. I wouldn’t be boxing if I didn’t believe that, and so whoever they put in front of me, I accept the challenge and go at it full-hearted.
“I’ve just been soldiering it. Whoever they tell me to fight, whatever they tell me to do… they’ve put a couple tests in front of me and I feel I’ve passed those tests with flying colors. They’ve given me harder tests and that’s brought me to this point right here, where I’m looking forward to proving them right again.”
Torrez’s love of the sport has made him a constant at various bouts, even the San Bernardino, California, card that included McIntyre’s new WBC interim super-middleweight champion Lester Martinez.
By talking to reporters at bouts, participating in the former reality show with Nico Ali Walsh, and being accessible, Torrez has raised his profile and popularity as he plans big.
“Being able to keep myself prevalent, in social media and fights keeps me in the loop and in line for attention to keep people talking,” he said.\
“With my rankings, it’s a little easier for fans to keep talking about me. I’m proud of my Mexican heritage. Even though [Andy] Ruiz was the first Mexican heavyweight champion, I’d love to become the first one who defends it and keeps that belt for a while.
“I’m just myself, and if people want to follow along on the journey and be supportive, that’s perfectly fine. I’m not trying to make myself more appealing. If you like me, you like me. If you don’t, you don’t. I’m here for it regardless.”
It’s another reason Torrez is thrilled to participate on this spectacle card as Top Rank participates on another bout in its new streaming deal with DAZN.
“I’m stoked by the opportunity. I’m in the pyramids, man,” said Torrez, of Tulare, California. “Not only does it allow me to be on a platform where it allows me to be noticed more, it gives me the chance to reach out to the guys from the other promotions, because they’re on there, too.
“You [can] have crossover promotional fights. That’s what I’m really excited for. Hopefully, with Queensberry, Matchroom and Golden Boy [on DAZN], we’ll all be able to all be on one card from one venue someday.”
