Battle of unbeatens: Tulare boxer Richard Torrez Jr. to fight Brandon Moore on ESPN
It's been over two years since Tulare boxer Richard Torrez Jr. turned pro.
During that span, the Mission Oak High School grad has continued his undefeated run, winning his first nine fights. All of his victories have come via knockout or technical knockout.
What's it like to connect on those vicious blows?
"If you knock them out cold, it's kind of scary," Torrez said. "Sometimes, when you throw that punch, when you throw that hard punch and it lands, you can feel it. It almost feels like bone-on-bone contact with no glove there. Whenever someone goes out cold, it's like butter. There's no resistance at all."
Torrez, 24, will face his biggest test yet as a pro on May 18 in a battle of heavyweight unbeatens. The Tulare native will clash with 30-year-old Brandon Moore at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The eight-round Top Rank bout will be televised live on ESPN at 7 p.m.
The 6-foot-6 Moore is 14-0.
Torrez, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, is 9-0.
In a YouTube video published by Sean Zittel, Moore declared himself “The best heavyweight in the world."
Moore is proof that the competition for Torrez is getting better.
Of Torrez' nine victories, eight came in three rounds or less with five wins in the first round.
In his latest fight in March, Torrez knocked out Donald Haynesworth in the first round in 2 minutes and 19 seconds.
"It's been really fun," Torrez said. "I think I'm starting to sell as a pro prospect. Hopefully, within the next couple of fights, I can fight a true contender."
Torrez signed with Top Rank in November 2021 and has electrified boxing fans with his early finishes.
"It's been really good," Torrez said. "I have faith and trust in the Top Rank promotion company and the matchmakers there. I'm just kind of following the plan."
Torrez has been prepping for this weekend's fight at a familiar place — USA Boxing's Olympic Training Facility in Colorado.
"It almost feels like I'm back home a little bit," Torrez said. "I lived at the Olympic training for four years, and being able to train with Olympic-level athletes who all have the same goal in mind. They all want to be the best right now. That is really helpful, and it helps drive me to be a better boxer."
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare boxer Richard Torrez Jr. to fight Brandon Moore on ESPN
