Richard Torrez Jr. Targets Moses Itauma & Agit Kabayel: Olympic Silver Medalist’s Ambition For Top Heavyweight Fights

Richard Torrez Jr. says he’d like to fight Moses Itauma or Agit Kabayel. The 2020 Olympic Silver medalist Torrez Jr. (13-0, 11 KOs) wants to step up against some of the big names in the top 10 in the division, provided his promoters at Top Rank allow him.

Torrez Jr. Seeks Elite Fights

Seeing the 20-year-old Itauma already headlining on DAZN PPV has got to be motivating for Torrez, given that he had a far superior amateur background than the British fighter, and he’s six years older at 26. Top Rank has been bringing him along slowly, the way they tend to do with their fighters.

Torrez Jr. is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision against 2016 Olympian Guido Vianello last April. That was a mini-step up for Richard, but not the kind that he’s looking for. He wants Itauma, Oleksandr Usyk, or Kabayel.

Olympic Medalist’s Heavyweight Ambition

“I want to fight both of them,” said Richard Torrez Jr. to the Sean Zittel channel about wanting to fight Oleksandr Usyk and Moses Itauma. “I think he’s [Itauma] a great fighter. I think it would be a great fight, too, to kind of pond hop a little bit to be able to have a big fight, like USA vs. some of those guys.”

Even if Top Rank gave Torrez Jr. the green light to fight Itauma or Usyk, he’s not going to get the opportunity to fight any of them. Usyk is expected to retire after one more fight. Itauma’s promoters are being very careful in the type of matchmaking they’re doing. That’s why they’re matching him against the washed Dillian Whyte. The last thing they want is a pressure fighter with the kind of power that Torrez Jr. possesses, fighting Itauma and potentially exposing him in front of the world.

Torrez Jr. Wants Top 10

“There’s Itauma. Any of the guys in the top 10. Yeah, that would be a great fight,” said Torrez Jr. when asked if he’d like to fight WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel. “We’re both pressure fighters. That would be an action-packed fight.”

Kabayel would be a good option if Top Rank could make that fight. Kabayel is likely to be elevated to full WBC champion status once Usyk retires.

“There are so many fights that can happen in the division right now. I’m ready for it because I want that competition. I’m a Top Rank guy. I’m comfortable with how they’re moving me,” said Kabayel.

“I do think the favorite would be Usyk,” said Torrez Jr. when asked who would win between Usyk and Itauma. “He’s not one of these towering guys. He’s flat on his feet still,” said Torrez Jr. about Usyk.