Undefeated heavyweight prospect Richard Torrez Jr., of Tulare, CA, is getting a bit of a homecoming as part of a fight card on May 18 at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Torrez (9-0, 9 KOs) will face the undefeated Brandon Moore (14-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout in support of the card’s main event, which features Emanuel Navarrete (38-1-1, 31 KOs) vs Denys Berinchyk (18-0, 9 KOs) for the vacant WBO lightweight title. Torrez’s opponent is his toughest test to date, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to be himself, which means learning new things, mentoring other fighters, and putting on a show for his Southern California fans.
Torrez has been one of the busiest heavyweights out there, coming off a year where he gloved up four times, and this is already his second fight in 2024. Torrez knocked out four of the five, with his December fight against Curtis Harper going the distance. Torrez understood and executed the assignment well, and although he was successful, there are always lessons to be learned from those experiences.
“One of my biggest gains from my last couple of fights was against Curtis Harper,” said Torrez. “I went eight rounds in that fight. Going through those eight rounds really helped me understand what going through an eight-round fight was like. Also, knowing not every guy is going to fall from my punches. That guy (Curtis Harper) could take a mean shot. So, instead of trying to load up on every single shot, I can be more of a machine gun. I learned not to play to the crowd too much, settle a bit more, and know when it’s time to take him out.”
It’s not a surprise that Torrez already sounds like a seasoned veteran at just 24 years old. He keeps his mind sharp and busy out of the ring, which appears to help him process things in the ring at a higher level. Torrez can be seen doing everything from knitting blankets to learning how to fly planes. These days, you’ll find Torrez learning Spanish, which will help expand his profile even more to audiences within the Latin community who may not be aware of him. Aside from that, Torrez is getting back into magic but isn’t looking to take world-renowned illusionist Criss Angel out of business any time soon. It’s just something he enjoys doing.
Torrez told FightsATW, “It’s ebbs and flows. I’m back on my magic a little bit. I do card tricks. I’m still taking dance classes at my local community college. One of the big things now is that I started my own garden. I have peppers, berries, blueberries, and cranberries in it and I’m excited to see how that does this summer.” So, will we see Torrez in the new season of Dancing with the Stars? “I don’t know if I’m that good,” said Torrez as he chuckled. “I really enjoy tap dancing, so I want to get better at that.”
Torrez not only spends his time learning new things, but he also gives back to the sport by training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. It’s there that Torrez takes the time to not only spar against some of the best amateur heavyweights in the country and the world but also to mentor the fighters who may one day decide to turn pro. Being able to share his knowledge with the other fighters is something he takes pride in, as Torrez was not as fortunate when he was coming up within the amateur system. “When I am over there, I am able to give them (amateur fighters) some insight. When I was turning pro, I didn’t have too many boxers coming to me to tell me what to do or not to do. Lending my two cents to them is beneficial for both of us.”
Torrez’s pro career has been a decent run as he’s a smaller heavyweight (averages around 235 pounds), and the fans have been a little antsy about his progression. The fighters he’s faced haven’t been world-beaters, and it’s hard to say where he is as a fighter. Although the whispers have grown into conversations about Torrez’s level of competition, he remains confident with the process. He knows there is a much larger plan for him in the future. “I always want to fight. It’s difficult when you go through a 6–8-week camp for a one-round fight. Then again, that’s how you know the camp went well.”
Torrez continued, “I’m not knocking on my opponents as they have gone rounds with other people. I think what we bring to the table is a little different. I would like to be able to showcase my ability a little more, but I understand that there is a process to it. I’m 100% behind the matchmakers with whatever they have to do. They have been able to show off a lot of my strengths in the ring, and I’m really thankful for that. Everyone wanted a bigger step up, so the matchmakers gave me a bigger step up. I know there is a road to take, and I’m just following it.”
That step up is Moore, an undefeated fighter with eight knockouts in his fourteen victories. Torrez is aware that this is the challenge he’s been waiting for and takes this fight against Moore as seriously as all the others he’s had. Torrez flew back to Colorado Springs the day after his last fight against Donald Haynesworth in March, which lasted one round. On May 18, hours after the undisputed heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury & Oleksandr Usyk takes place, Torrez will look to capture the hearts of the fans tuning in by giving them a reason to believe he is the future of the division.
Torrez is returning home and has only a few things to say to those anticipating his return. “Being able to come back home is amazing. I really want to be able to show the fans how much I’ve improved. I know that the last couple of times I’ve been in Cali, I got the early knockouts, but I’d love to show my boxing ability and some of the other facets of Richard Torrez. Don’t blink.”
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