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Richard Torrez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Torrez
Personal information
Nicknames
  • The Gentleman Boxer
  • Kiki
Born (1999-06-01) June 1, 1999 (age 27)
Tulare, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
WeightHeavyweight
Boxing career
Reach193 cm (76 in)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights15
Wins14
Win by KO12
Losses1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Super-heavyweight
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima Super heavyweight
Golden Gloves
Gold medal – first place 2017 Lafayette Super-heavyweight
U.S. National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Salt Lake City Super-heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 2018 Salt Lake City Super-heavyweight
U.S. Youth National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2014 Reno Super-heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 2015 Reno Super-heavyweight
Gold medal – first place 2016 Reno Super-heavyweight
Youth World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Saint Petersburg Super-heavyweight

Richard Torrez Jr. (born June 1, 1999) is an American professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics.[1]

Early life and education

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Torrez graduated from Palo Verde Elementary School in his native Tulare, California, in 2013. He competed on the chess team for Mission Oak High School,[2] where he graduated as valedictorian in 2017.[3][4] Torrez and his friends in the school's robotics club were nearly suspended for trying to develop more efficient rocket fuel.[5] "At high school, I think what surprised me most is I liked hanging out with the nerds more than I liked hanging out with the athletes," he said.[6] Citing how Vasyl Lomachenko learned dance to improve his boxing footwork,[7] Torrez began studying ballet at the College of the Sequoias.[8] He fell in love with it, and eventually played the part of Gaston in a production of Beauty and the Beast, an experience he found more terrifying than the Olympics.[9]

Amateur career

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He won a bronze medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Super Heavyweight and placed 5th at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships in the same weight class.[10][11] He won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics, losing to professional boxer Bakhodir Jalolov in the final.[12][13]

Professional career

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Early career

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On March 3, 2024, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, Torrez defeated Donald Haynesworth via first-round TKO.[14]

Torrez was scheduled to face Brandon Moore on May 18, 2024, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA.[15] Torrez won the fight by TKO in the fifth round.[16]

Torrez was scheduled to face Joey Dawejko at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on September 20, 2024.[17] He won the fight via fifth-round disqualification of his opponent, who lost his mouthpiece multiple times throughout the bout.[18][19]

Torrez was scheduled to face Guido Vianello in Las Vegas on April 5, 2025.[20][21] Torrez Jr would win the fight by unanimous decision (98–91, 98–91, 97–92). Vianello was deducted a point for holding in the second round.[22] Due to the high volume of holding and the sporadic nature of the action, the fight was criticized by the boxing press as being "ugly," though Torrez's ability to pressure and land his right hook out of his southpaw stance was commended.[23]

In his next bout, he stopped Tomáš Šálek in the first round at Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, on November 15, 2025.[24][25]

Torrez suffered the first defeat of his professional career when he was knocked out 55 seconds into the second round of his fight with Frank Sánchez at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on May 23, 2026.[26][27]

Personal life

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Torrez Jr. represents the third generation of a boxing family from San Joaquin Valley, California. His great-grandfather, Juan Torrez, emigrated from Fresnillo, Mexico in 1920. His grandfather Manuel Torrez, was a southwest (USA) Golden Gloves champion and his father and coach Richard Torrez Sr. reached the quarterfinals in the U.S. Trials for the 1984 Olympics.[28][29][30]

In his spare time, Torrez Jr. enjoys building rockets with his friends from high school.[31]

Professional boxing record

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15 fights 14 wins 1 loss
By knockout 12 1
By decision 1 0
By disqualification 1 0
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
15 Loss 14–1 Frank Sánchez KO 2 (12), 0:55 May 23, 2026 Pyramids of Giza, Giza, Egypt
14 Win 14–0 Tomáš Šálek TKO 1 (10), 2:45 Nov 15, 2025 Arena Coliseo, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Retained WBC-NABF, and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles
13 Win 13–0 Guido Vianello UD 10 Apr 5, 2025 Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada U.S. Won vacant IBF North American, WBC-NABF, and WBO-NABO heavyweight titles
12 Win 12–0 Issac Munoz Gutierrez TKO 3 (8), 0:59 Dec 7, 2024 Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. Retained WBC-NABF Junior heavyweight title
11 Win 11–0 Joey Dawejko DQ 5 (8), 2:02 Sep 20, 2024 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S. Retained WBC-NABF Junior heavyweight title;
Dawejko disqualified for excessive loss of mouthpiece
10 Win 10–0 Brandon Moore TKO 5 (8), 1:39 May 18, 2024 Pechanga Arena, San Diego, California, U.S. Won vacant WBC-NABF Junior heavyweight title
9 Win 9–0 Donald Haynesworth TKO 1 (8), 2:19 Mar 29, 2024 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Curtis Harper TKO 8 (8), 2:03 Dec 9, 2023 Charles F. Dodge City Center, Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Tyrrell Anthony Herndon KO 2 (6), 1:26 Oct 14, 2023 Fort Bend EpiCenter, Rosenberg, Texas, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Willie Jake Jr KO 1 (6), 1:22 Aug 12, 2023 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 James Bryant RTD 1 (6), 3:00 Feb 3, 2023 Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Ahmed Hefny KO 3 (6), 2:36 Oct 29, 2022 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Marco Antonio Canedo KO 1 (6), 0:44 Aug 27, 2022 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Roberto Zavala Jr KO 1 (6), 0:58 Jul 15, 2022 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Allen Melson KO 2 (6), 1:23 Mar 4, 2022 Save Mart Center, Fresno, California, U.S.

References

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  1. ^ Galaviz, Anthony (June 1, 2021). "'It made everything worth it.' Valley boxer lives Olympic dream after COVID nearly ruined it". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Community cheers on Tulare boxer Richard Torrez Jr. as he fights for gold at Tokyo Olympics". Yourcentralvalley. August 8, 2021. Archived from the original on September 5, 2021. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "A magician and a boxer, Richard Torrez Jr. has a few tricks up his sleeve in pivotal match". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  4. ^ "Family cheers on Tulare boxing star Richard Torrez Jr. as he gears up for Tokyo Olympics". YourCentralValley.com. July 29, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  5. ^ "I have a 100% KO record as a boxer but in my spare time I build rockets and do ballet". talkSPORT. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6. ^ "I have a 100% KO record as a boxer but in my spare time I build rockets and do ballet". talkSPORT. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "I have a 100% KO record as a boxer but in my spare time I build rockets and do ballet". talkSPORT. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Santoliquito, Joseph (October 26, 2022). "Richard Torrez Jr. uses beauty to sharpen the beast". The Ring. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "I have a 100% KO record as a boxer but in my spare time I build rockets and do ballet". talkSPORT. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  10. ^ "Two USA Boxers prepare for Tokyo". Koaa News 5. June 11, 2021.
  11. ^ "What You Should Know About the 2021 USA Boxing Olympic Team | Complete Roster Breakdown". Inside the Ropes Boxing – Your #1 source for boxing news. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "Richard Torrez is the USA's super-heavyweight at Tokyo 2020 – finally, a big man to end years of Olympic ignominy?". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on August 13, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Olympic Boxing Day 16: Uzbekistan's Jalolov wins super heavyweight gold on final day of competition | NBC Olympics". www.nbcolympics.com. Retrieved July 26, 2025.
  14. ^ Galaviz, Anthony. "Tulare's Richard Torrez Jr. too much for his latest opponent, picking up TKO win". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  15. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (April 10, 2024). "Richard Torrez Jr vs Brandon Moore kicks off Navarrete-Berinchyk telecast". FIGHTMAG.
  16. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (May 19, 2024). "Richard Torrez Jr drops & stops Brandon Moore in fifth round". FIGHTMAG.
  17. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (September 12, 2024). "Richard Torrez Jr vs Joey Dawejko new co-feature to Munguia-Bazinyan in Glendale". FIGHTMAG.
  18. ^ Songalia, Ryan (September 21, 2024). "Richard Torrez defeats Joey Dawejko by DQ, Emiliano Vargas remains unbeaten". The Ring.
  19. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (September 21, 2024). "Video: Richard Torrez Jr takes DQ win against Joey Dawejko". FIGHTMAG.
  20. ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (February 15, 2025). "Richard Torrez Jr faces Guido Vianello in Las Vegas in April". FIGHTMAG.
  21. ^ "Richard Torrez Jnr-Guido Vianello set for April 5 in Las Vegas". www.boxingscene.com.
  22. ^ "Richard Torrez beats Guido Vianello by unanimous decision in heavywight showdown in Las Vegas". Sky Sports. April 5, 2025.
  23. ^ "Richard Torrez Jr. Wins Ugly Decision Over Guido Vianello". KO On SI. April 6, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  24. ^ "Richard Torrez Jnr resumes KO ways (sort of), halting Tomas Salek in one". Boxing Scene. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  25. ^ "Undefeated American heavyweight prospect breaks rival's nose in brutal first-round KO". Talksport. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  26. ^ "Frank Sanchez calls out Oleksandr Usyk after blitzing Richard Torrez". Boxing Scene. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  27. ^ "Frank Sanchez Knocks Out Richard Torrez Jr In Two Rounds". Boxing News 24. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
  28. ^ "Richard Torrez Jr.: USA's golden hope among the giants". olympics.com. October 5, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
  29. ^ Sun, Daniel Gligich Daniel Gligich is a reporter for The San Joaquin Valley; Athletics, focusing on Fresno State (June 16, 2021). "Olympic glory for Richard Torrez Jr. is three-generation journey from a Tulare boxing club".
  30. ^ "US Olympic Trials - Fort Worth - June 6-10 1984".
  31. ^ "I have a 100% KO record as a boxer but in my spare time I build rockets and do ballet". talkSPORT. August 11, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
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