Richard Torres Jr says his co-feature against Frank Sanchez at the Pyramids of Giza will mark the next stage of his climb in a heavyweight division that has finally come back to life, with the undefeated American taking inspiration from Oleksandr Usyk and looking forward to clashes with the new wave of contenders led by Moses Itauma.
Torres (14-0, 12 KOs) joined the talkSPORT podcast Fight Night Daily this week ahead of his bout with Sanchez beneath the May 23 main event, calling the Egyptian super-card a surreal step on what he hopes is his fast path to the heavyweight summit.
"It's a surreal experience. Thank you to everybody that's been able to put me on this card," Torres said. "We're outside the pyramids and it's something that's still surreal to me. I can't think about it. I'm just so excited to be in the moment and be present in this opportunity. Come Saturday night, I'm going to give it all I got."
The American, an Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo, has been waiting for a step up against a top-tier name. Sanchez — a Cuban former WBO interim titleholder with only one defeat — represents exactly that.
"I've been in camp for five months," Torres said. "I want a good fight, and to be able to have that come Saturday night is something I'm expecting. I've been in the ring with a couple of Cubans before and I understand that process. I think Frank does a great job of lulling you. He'll throw that one jab, that one jab, and then he'll come with a really quick one with a powerful two."
Torres said the contrast between his pressure style and Sanchez's counter-puncher's patience is where the night will be decided.
"I think the difference between me and Frank is Frank has the opportunity for one shot, and if not then it's going to be a scary fight for him. For me, it's that pressure, it's that tenacity, and as those rounds go on is where I get my money in."
With the heavyweight division humming again, Torres said he believes a true generational turnover is now under way — a torch-passing from the Tyson Fury–Anthony Joshua–Deontay Wilder era to a faster, more switched-on next wave.
"The heavyweight division is so volatile right now," Torres said. "You never know who's going to be on top. It's changing every month, it feels like. I'm so excited to just be able to have my hand in here and showcase for the Americans. I really want to put us out there for the USA and say we're here to stay as well."
Asked about the Usyk-Verhoeven main event, Torres did not hide his admiration for the Ukrainian — or for the broader experiment of pitting boxing royalty against kickboxing's reigning king.
"It's very hard for me not to side with the best in boxing in a boxing match," he said. "But because it's a heavyweight division fight, you can never count anybody out. There's still a puncher's chance. Alexander Usyk being a smaller heavyweight, a lefty as well, being able to move and maintain consistency and pressure — he's somebody I look up to, somebody that I would love to be able to share the ring with one day. He has knocked on the door for a lot of these smaller heavyweights."
It is Britain's Moses Itauma, however, who Torres views as the eventual collision point of his own arc.
"That would be an incredible opportunity, and just be able to jump the pond," Torres said. "UK fans are incredible. Every time I go out there, it's just a packed-out show, and you guys are true fight fans. To be able to share the ring with the likes of Moses Itauma — why not have a fight when two people are in their primes? He's a great fighter. He's fast, he's quick, he has incredible capability. But I think he hasn't fought a fighter like me — somebody that also has that pressure, that grit. He's been taking out a lot of the older guys, but if you get in the ring with two fast guys who are in their primes, it's going to be a different style."
