Richard Torrez Jr. (born June 1, 1999) is an American professional boxer. As an amateur, he won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics.
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, where he graduated as valedictorian in 2017. Torrez and his friends in the school's robotics club were nearly suspended for trying to develop more efficient rocket fuel. "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. Citing how Vasyl Lomachenko learned dance to improve his boxing footwork, Torrez began studying ballet at the College of the Sequoias. 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.
Amateur career 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. He won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics, losing to professional boxer Bakhodir Jalolov in the final.
Professional career
Early career On March 3, 2024, at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ, Torrez defeated Donald Haynesworth via first-round TKO.
Torrez was scheduled to face Brandon Moore on May 18, 2024, at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, CA. Torrez won the fight by TKO in the fifth round.
Torrez was scheduled to face Joey Dawejko at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on September 20, 2024. He won the fight via fifth-round disqualification of his opponent, who lost his mouthpiece multiple times throughout the bout.
Torrez was scheduled to face Guido Vianello in Las Vegas on April 5, 2025. 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. 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.
In his next bout, he stopped Tomáš Šálek in the first round at Arena Coliseo in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, on November 15, 2025.
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.
Personal life 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.
In his spare time, Torrez Jr. enjoys building rockets with his friends from high school.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes15Loss14–1Frank SánchezKO2 (12), May 23, 202614Win14–0Tomáš ŠálekTKO1 (10), Nov 15, 2025 13Win13–0Guido Vianello10Apr 5, 2025 12Win12–0Issac Munoz GutierrezTKO3 (8), Dec 7, 2024 11Win11–0Joey Dawejko5 (8), Sep 20, 202410Win10–0Brandon MooreTKO5 (8), May 18, 20249Win9–0Donald HaynesworthTKO1 (8), Mar 29, 20248Win8–0Curtis Harper8 (8), Dec 9, 20237Win7–0Tyrrell Anthony HerndonKO2 (6), Oct 14, 20236Win6–0Willie Jake Jr KO1 (6), Aug 12, 20235Win5–0James Bryant1 (6), Feb 3, 20234Win4–0Ahmed HefnyKO3 (6), Oct 29, 20223Win3–0Marco Antonio CanedoKO1 (6), Aug 27, 20222Win2–0Roberto Zavala JrKO1 (6), Jul 15, 20221Win1–0Allen Melson2 (6), Mar 4, 2022
References
External links
Richard Torrez Jr. at USA Boxing