December 9: Heavyweight Prospect Richard Torrez Jr. to Fight Curtis Harper at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida – Torrez-Harper will stream live & exclusively on ESPN+
As 2023 winds down, the heavyweight division’s latest sensation, Richard Torrez Jr., is all set to deliver a smashing end to the year. Hailing from Tulare, California, this Olympic silver medalist will throw down with the wily Curtis Harper on the chilly evening of Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Charles F. Dodge City Center, nestled in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
This showdown marks Torrez’s first dance in an eight-rounder. Until now, he’s been wrapping things up pretty quickly, ending all seven of his pro fights in a mere three rounds or less.
The Torrez vs. Harper fight will be live on ESPN+. This is just before the ESPN-televised double whammy at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. You’ll witness Robeisy Ramirez defending his WBO featherweight world title against Rafael ‘El Divino’ Espinoza, followed by the unbeaten junior middleweight hotshot Xander Zayas squaring off with Spain’s Jorge Fortea.
Torrez, with his shiny 7-0 record (boasting 7 KOs), burst onto the pro scene post-Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He debuted with a stunning second-round stoppage over Allen Melson in Fresno, California. Zooming through 2022 with a perfect 4-0, he kicked off his second pro year with a knockout of James Bryant in February. Despite a six-month gap due to an injury, he made a triumphant comeback with rapid victories over Willie Jake Jr. and Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
As for Harper, this guy’s a seasoned warhorse in the ring (14-10, 9 KOs). He’s been toe-to-toe with a bunch of top-shelf fighters, including Chris Arreola and the likes of Brandon Moore and Guido Vianello, often lasting the full stretch.