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