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'Grit, spit and a whole lot of duct tape': Meet Richard Torrez Jr., boxing's next big thing

Just at the mention of Richard Torrez Jr.’s name, Top Rank president Todd duBoef got gushy.

“Isn’t he great?” duBoef asked about his heavyweight prospect from Tulare, California, who makes his pro debut on Friday at the Save Mart Center in Fresno in a six-rounder against Alan Melson.

DuBoef was talking about Torrez’s personality. But he seems to have the skills along with the charisma to go a long way in the pro game.

What’s important to note is that Torrez was a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games last year, becoming the first American since Riddick Bowe in 1988 to win silver at super heavyweight.