Richard Torrez Jr. can't remember a moment when his father, Richard Torrez Sr., wasn't involved in his life.
That tight-knight bond has helped carry Torrez Jr. during his amateur, Olympic and professional boxing careers.
A third-generation boxer, Torrez Jr. (11-0, 10 KOs) is set to headline his first main event on April 5 when he clashes with Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (13-2-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-round bout at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The entire Top Rank card will be livestreamed on ESPN+.
"I used to think about all the times I sacrificed for boxing — my birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving," Torrez Jr. said. "We were always in the gym training. I was staying ready and sacrificing a huge amount of my time. I forget that my dad was there every step of the way. He was there every training session, every birthday, his birthday, my sister's, my mom's. He sacrificed just as much, if not more, for me to be able to be here. He's been a crucial part of my game and my profession. I would not fight if my dad wasn't in my corner."
Richard Torrez Sr. learned how to be a father from his dad, Manuel Torrez.
So when Torrez Sr. became a dad, he helped instill the same family values that his father taught him.
Boxing was a part of that.
Manuel Torrez, who was a Golden Gloves champion, established the Tulare Athletic Boxing Club in 1945. He trained his son, Torrez Sr., to the 1984 Olympic Boxing Trials.
Today, Torrez Sr. is still his son's coach and trainer. Their relationship has blossomed for 25 years.
"We have quarrels and everything like that, but at the end of the day, I trust him completely to the fullest of my ability," Torrez Jr. said. "Anything that he told me to do, I did. If he told me to drop my hands and quack like a duck in the ring, I'm going to do that. He's the guy who I know has my best interests. Going in the pros, I understood and learned that there's a lot of people who don't have your best interests in mind. I'm thankful and grateful to have my dad there. I know that no matter what, he has my best interests."
Like grandfather, like father, like son
Torrez Sr. still remembers the first time his son learned to ride a bike. Torrez Jr. took off down the street then through some rose bushes, wrecked and scraped his leg.
Torrez Sr. looked over at his son, who was on the verge of tears, but instead of coddling him, he burst out in a cheer and praised Torrez Jr. for the achievement.
"I was able to guide him past that pain to be a success," Torrez Sr. said.
That same mindset carried over to boxing.
In Torrez Jr.'s first sparring session as a youth, he took a shot to the face and didn't like it. But with encouragement from his dad, he returned to the ring and eventually won his first fight.
Torrez Jr.'s love for boxing grew from there and so did his relationship with his father.
Now, ...
