These concerns were greatly heightened on May 23 when Frank Sanchez stopped Torrez in two rounds at the Pyramids of Giza. The fight was over almost before it started. Sanchez looked bigger, stronger and more comfortable at the level Torrez is trying to achieve. This was Torrez’s first time facing a true top contender, and the difference was obvious.

Top Rank now faces a decision that every promotional company ultimately must make. Promoters invest in fighters because they believe those fighters can become contenders, champions, attractions, or all three. When the evidence begins to point in a different direction, the calculations quickly change.

The easiest path would be to rebuild Torrez against a series of carefully selected opponents. He could win four or five fights in a row and return to the top of the rankings. His record will improve and his confidence may return. The more significant question is whether anyone will learn anything up-to-date from this process.

Fans have already seen his struggles with Vianello. They saw Sanchez stop him in two rounds. Beating a group of journeymen and second-rate heavyweights would fix the numbers next to his name, but it wouldn’t answer the questions that now follow him.

Another issue is time. Oleksandr Usyk is approaching retirement, Tyson Fury is 37 years venerable and Anthony Joshua is approaching the final stages of his career. The heavyweight stars who generate the biggest paydays could be gone before Torrez completes a long rebuild.

This reality means that more and more attention is being paid to the next generation. Moses Itauma could eventually become the main attraction, and a future fight with Torrez could have value if both remain relevant. Torrez can’t reach this stage by beating overworked opponents for the next two years. He would need significant wins over legitimate challengers before fans or broadcasters would take such a fight seriously.

The brutal reality is that Top Rank may soon have to decide whether Torrez is a contender worth investing in or simply a heavyweight whose level is above his. Fans have already seen warning signs after both Vianello and Sanchez’s fights, and rebuilding the record is easier than rebuilding faith.

If Top Rank concludes that Torrez cannot beat good heavyweights, boxing history suggests there is only one outcome. Promotional companies looking to get ahead rarely invest in fighters they no longer view as future contenders. At some point, they redirect their resources elsewhere and focus on prospects with a clearer path to the top.

I wish you a very joyful birthday #HighestRank Olympic silver medalist in the heavyweight and Olympic categories @RichardTorrez21 💪 pic.twitter.com/aSQQrgQLFe

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 1, 2026

Following his impressive win over Juno Nakatani, Naoya Inoue is being linked to a fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, and fellow pound-for-pound title challenger Shakur Stevenson has shared his predictions for the proposed fight.

Inoue defended his undisputed super bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over Nakatani a month ago at the Tokyo Dome, which cemented his claim to the number one spot in the super bantamweight division, especially after Oleksandr Usyk’s close shave against Rico Verhoeven.

After the Japanese star cleared out the 122-pound division, fight fans are now discussing the prospect of facing unified super flyweight champion Rodriguez before his planned move up to featherweight.

I’m talking to Boxing in the match roomWBO super-lightweight champion Stevenson believes “Bam” could prove to be Inoue’s “Kryptonite,” pointing out that Inoue was knocked down by left-hander Luis Nery and that Rodriguez, who is also a southpaw, has the power to knock the undefeated feeling to its knees.

“I like Bam, I can’t fight Bam. I know Bam, Bam is my guy. I think Inoue is a great fighter, but I think Bam might be his Kryptonite.

“I saw him [Inoue] get dropped by the southpaw and I think Bam hits so tough he could drop him too.”

Rodriguez is already ready to move up from super flyweight when next weekend at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, he will fight for the WBA bantamweight world title of Antonio Vargas. It is believed that if he succeeds, the undefeated American will subsequently demand an attack on Inoue and move up one more league to make it happen.

Promoter Eddie Hearn said preliminary talks have taken place and that his man Rodriguez is more than willing to travel to Japan for the fight.

Sean Zittel says sources expect Beterbiev’s third fight with Bivol to take place in Russia, not Saudi Arabia

According to reporter Sean Zittel, the third fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol may take place in Russia, not Saudi Arabia. Zittel says sources familiar with the ongoing discussions expect the trilogy fight to be backed by Russian boxing officials if the rivals attempt another championship fight.

“Betterbiev and Bivol will probably push through the trilogy in Russia without Turki’s involvement and without funding from Saudi Arabia. Umar Kremlev and the Russian boxing federation that runs the IBA will do it,” Zittel said. “This is what will probably be pushed through, and the next one will be Beterbiev-Bivol 3 in Russia.”

The reports come amid a broader discussion about David Benavidez’s future and why his team is considering alternative options at both featherlight heavyweight and cruiserweight.

According to Zittel, Benavidez’s team believes Bivol remains its preferred target. However, if Bivol and Beterbiev go for a third fight, the path to the fight could be closed for the rest of the year.

Zittel also said Jose Benavidez Sr. has asked the WBC to make David Benavidez the mandatory challenger to cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, giving his son another path to the title if top featherlight heavyweight fights remain unavailable.

“Their number one and two options are Bivol for the title and then Beterbiev if they can’t get Bivol. But if they fight each other, then you go to cruiserweight for the WBC belt,” Zittel said, recalling talks with Jose Benavidez Sr.

Neither Beterbiev nor Bivol have officially announced plans for a trilogy fight. The two rivals had split their previous encounters, with Beterbiev winning the first fight before Bivol took revenge in the rematch.

Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.

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Last updated: 31/05/2026 at 23:56