Richard Torrez Jr. (born June 1, 1999 in Tulare, California) is an American professional boxer. As an amateur, Torrez qualified to represent the United States at the 2020 Olympics where he won a silver medal.[1] As a professional, he is 11–0 with 10 knockouts.
Early life and education
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]
On March 3, 2024 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, Torrez defeated Donald Haynesworth via first-round TKO.[12]
Torrez was scheduled to face Brandon Moore on May 18, 2024 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA.[13] Torrez won the fight by TKO in the fifth round.[14]
Torrez was scheduled to face Joey Dawejko at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on September 20, 2024.[15] He won the fight via fifth-round disqualification of his opponent, who lost his mouthpiece multiple times throughout the bout.[16][17]
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.[18][19][20]
In his spare time, Torrez Jr. enjoys building rockets with his friends from high school.[21]
