This Tulare native boxer is having Olympic fever and wants to keep shining in 2019
Richard Torrez Jr. has dreams of becoming a professional boxer.
For now, though, the Tulare native has a bigger goal in mind: representing the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
If his amateur record (110-6) is any indication, there is a good chance he’ll accomplish that goal and become the first boxer from the central San Joaquin Valley to reach the Olympics since current WBC super lightweight world champion Jose Ramirez of Avenal did it in 2012.
“I can taste it,” Torrez said. “I was kind of feeling it almost last year. I feel confident in my abilities, confident in my dad coaching me, confident in the Olympic coaches, and to be able to go undefeated last year, and to start off undefeated this year, has really put me in a situation to grasp that goal of making the 2020 team.”
Torrez added to his championship collection last month when he took gold at the 70th Strandja international tournament. He won by unanimous decision over Petar Belberov of host Bulgaria to earn his third elite international gold medal in super heavyweight.
He was named Boxer of the Tournament.
It adds to his growing list of titles: USA Boxing Elite national championships in 2017 and 2018; National Golden Gloves in 2017; Youth National Championships in 2015 and Youth Open in 2015 and Junior National Championships in 2013 and 2014.
His international resume includes taking first in the 2017 Bradenburg Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, and first at the Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany, in 2018.
The Mission Oak High alum started boxing in 1999 and trained at Tulare Athletic Boxing Club. Nowadays, the 19-year-old is often in Colorado Springs, Colo., where he trains with Team USA.
He lists his dad, Tulare Union High assistant principal Richard Torrez Sr., as his favorite boxer. Torrez was a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 1984 and coached his son among many others at the club. Dad remains active in his son’s development, talking often with USA Boxing coaches when he can’t make it to the training site.
The younger Torrez said he wants to go pro, but first things first.
“I try to overcome one obstacle everyday. The end game is really 2020.
“I’m really looking forward to see what I can do against some of these countries like world championships and Pan American Games. I’m excited for what the future has to offer.”
This story was originally published May 7, 2019 at 10:43 AM.
