Atlas argued Torrez’s wide punches, predictable pressure, and lack of development were exposed by Sanchez in Egypt
Teddy Atlas believes Richard Torrez Jr.’s knockout loss to Frank Sanchez was predictable long before Saturday night’s IBF eliminator in Egypt. Atlas said Torrez had become too predictable offensively and warned that his aggressive style eventually would run into a heavyweight capable of punishing the mistakes.
“Torrez, to me, never was getting better,” said Atlas about his belief that Torrez Jr. hasn’t improved since coming out of the amateurs in 2022.
“I would hear the commentator say, ‘Ah, great. He’s this. He’s that.’ And I’m watching them saying, ‘No, he’s not.’ He’s coming straight in. He’s throwing wide punches. He’s one-dimensional.
“You close your eyes, and you know he’s coming. You can throw an uppercut. You can catch him. Until he improves in those areas, I’m not going gaga over him.”
Atlas said the warning signs were ignored because Torrez had been facing opponents unable to punish the mistakes he was making in the ring.
“Pay me today or pay me tomorrow. You’re going to pay for it,” said Atlas. “That’s what I saw every time I saw Torres. He did things that he should have got hit for, but the guy he was in there with wasn’t capable of throwing that punch.
“Sooner or later, you’re going to fight someone that is capable.”
Atlas said that Sanchez’s style was perfect for exposing Torrez because of the Cuban heavyweight’s size, timing, and experience. “Torrez again was made to order for Sanchez. Coming straight in, leaning a little bit, throwing wide punches, being predictable.
“Sure enough, it reminded me a little bit of Foreman and Joe Frazier style-wise. You got Sanchez a lot bigger, and you got that uppercut.”
Atlas also took aim at the way prospects are built up before facing meaningful opposition.
“The commentators make these guys into what they’re not before they fought anybody,” said Atlas. “They make them sound like they already a great fighter. What have they done?
“I’m looking and saying he’s one-dimensional. It’s just a matter of Sanchez getting his timing.”
