Torrez speaks on a potential clash with Itauma.
America used to be heavyweight boxing’s beating heart, but as of right now, it is in desperate need of a defibrillator. And on Saturday, everyone in the United States is counting on one man to save them all.
Richard Torrez Jr. has been regarded as the country’s biggest heavyweight hope since Jared Anderson’s loss to Martin Bakole. This week, he faces his biggest test yet on the biggest stage yet.
Torrez will be facing Frank Sanchez on the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven undercard, and should the American win, he will be in line for a shot at the man heavily favoured to win the main event.
That’s because Torrez’s fight with Sanchez is an IBF title eliminator, giving extra incentive to the 26-year-old California native to perform on the night. But ahead of his fight with the world-ranked Cuban, Torrez has shared his thoughts on a potential match with a heavyweight contender from the opposite side of the pond.
Speaking to The Ring on a fight with Moses Itauma, Torrez stated, “I’m about that action, man. I think it’d be fireworks. I don’t run from smoke.”
When it came to why he thinks he’d win that fight, Torrez said, “He hasn’t really fought anybody that has that speed and quickness [that I have]. I would like to throw my hat in there and just see how it goes.”
The former Olympic silver medallist shares similarities to the well-regarded Briton, with them both being regarded as smaller heavyweights in an era of giants.
Not to mention that they both possess identical records, winning all 14 of their professional fights and 12 of them inside the distance.
But before that fight can eventuate, Torrez must first get past Sanchez, an experienced contender who many favour to emerge victorious on the night. Because if Torrez overlooks this challenge in any way, that potential fight with Itauma could very well be gone for good.
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