(Zanfer Boxing)
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…
2026-05-19 20:17:42
