Frank Sanchez vs Richard Torrez Jr. Preview May 23rd, 2026
Two hard-hitting heavyweights will be going at it over 12 rounds this Saturday, May 23rd as unbeaten unbeaten Richard Torrez Jr Tulare, California will be battling with Cuba’s Frank Sanchez in Giza, Egypt. The bout is on the undercard of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven tilt and can be seen live in most nations on DAZN pay per view. Torrez last fought in November when he stopped Tomas Salek in just 165 seconds to retain his WBO NABO, and NABF Heavyweight Titles. In his previous outing in April of last year, Torrez beat Guido Vianello by a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant IBF North American, NABF, and WBO NABO Heavyweight belts. Sanchez last stepped into the ring in February, 2025 when he halted Ramon Echeverria in the third round. Sanchez last the only bout of his pro career in his previous contest when Agit Kabayel stopped him in the seventh round in May, 2024 to lose his WBC Continental Americas and WBO NABO Crowns.
Sanchez vs Torrez Jr Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Frank Sanchez +254
- Richard Torrez Jr. -350
My Pick
The 33-year-old Sanchez, who fights out of Miami, Florida boasts a fine record of 25-1 with 18 Ko’s and has boxed 120 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017. He enjoyed a fine amateur career as he won the 2008 Cuban National School Games at 165 lbs and finished third at the Cuban National Championships from 2011 to 2014. He then fought in the World Series of Boxing in 2016. Sanchez stands 6-feet-4-inches tall with a 78-inch wingspan.
He possesses better-than-average power as 72 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including his last five after the previous three went the distance. His biggest victories so far have been against Junior Fa, Carlos Negron, Christian Hammer, Efe Ajagba, Nagy Aguilera, Brian Howard, Joey Dawejko and Julian Fernandez. Sanchez can explode suddenly with power punches after appearing to lull his opponents to sleep but isn’t the most exciting heavyweight out there.
The 26-year-old Torrez makes the ring walk with a perfect record of 14-0 with 12 Ko’s. There’s no denying his power as 85.7 per cent of his wins have been by stoppage. Joey Dawejko and Guido Vianello have been the only men to lose by anything other than a stoppage to Torrez. Dawejko was disqualified in the fifth round in September, 2024 for repeatedly spitting out his mouthpiece and Vianello went the distance with him last year. Torrez made his pro debut in 2022 and has fought just 44 rounds since, due to his power.
As an amateur, Torrez enjoyed an extensive career by winning a silver medal in the super heavyweight division at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He also won bronze at the 2019 Pan American Games; gold at the 2017 Golden Gloves tournament; gold at the 2017 and 2018 U.S. National Championships; gold at the 2014, 2015 and 2016 U.S. Youth National Championships and bronze at the 2016 Youth World Championships. Therefore it’s safe to say that he possesses some fine skills to accompany his power.
Torrez, a southpaw, comes from a boxing family as his father and grandfather were both boxers and his father is also his coach. He measures 6-feet-2-inches tall with a 76-inch reach so he’s definitely not one of the bigger heavyweights around and he gives up two inches in both height and reach to Sanchez. He captured the vacant NABF Junior Heavyweight Title in May, 2024 when he stopped Brandon Moore in the fifth round. He’d never taken on a contender until facing Vianello last year but then took a step backward in his next fight against Tomas Salek.
Prediction…
Both boxers have heavy hands but Sanchez has a habit of not letting his go enough while Torrez definitely doesn’t need any urging to punch his opponent in the mouth. However Sanchez will jump all over you if he has you hurt. This is an interesting matchup and I have a feeling that whoever takes the initiative here will enjoy the most success and that is likely going to be Torrez. He is taking a big step up in class though and will need a solid chin. But if he can take Sanchez’s power then he should win based on the volume of punches he throws.
Torrez Jr’s aggressiveness will be the difference.
Play Torrez Jr. -350 @ BetOnline.ag
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Frank Sanchez betting • Richard Torrez Jr betting