'Brutal and criminal': Boxing world in shock over sickening moment
Controversy and debate has erupted in the boxing world over a professional fighter’s brutal KO of an amateur opponent.
American fighter Richard Torrez had to be taken out of the ring on a stretcher after a shocking first-round knockout at the hands of Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov in the AIBA world championship in Russia.
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Prior to 2016 a professional would never have been allowed to fight an amateur, however the rules were changed to allow pros to fight at the Olympics.
The rule change means Jalolov, who is now 6-0 in his pro career with six knockouts, was allowed to participate in Russia.
Torrez, 20, was 44-4 in his amateur career and had never been knocked out.
However he was no match for his professional opponent.
Jalolov rocked Torrez with two massive combinations before the first round was even over, sending his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Torrez was unconscious before he hit the mat - the referee immediately calling for medical attention.
He was then taken from the ring on a stretcher and transferred to hospital.
The complete mismatch sparked a furious reaction among the boxing community, led by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.
"Brutal and criminal to allow a professional boxer Jalolov from Russia with 6-0 as a pro to fight outclassed, outweighed and far smaller USA 20-year-old amateur Torrez AIBA world championship in Russia,” he tweeted.
Brutal and criminal to allow a professional boxer Jalolov from Russia with 6-0 as a pro to fight outclassed, outweighed and far smaller USA 20 year old amateur Torrez AIBA world championship in Russia. Jalolov is scheduled for his 7th pro fight in 11 days in USA pic.twitter.com/kP8Pwa3PZ9
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) September 19, 2019
TERRIBLE!!!!
— VINNY PAZ (@5XPAZ) September 19, 2019
Jalolov has just brutally knocked Torrez out. It was just brutal
— Castelnuovo-Tedesco (@musicofmemory) September 18, 2019
Hope USA's Richard Torrez Jr is alright. That was a shocking KO at the hands of Uzbekistan's Jalolov. Left the ring on a stretcher
— Kevin Byrne (@KevByrneBox) September 18, 2019
I just never liked the pros vs Amateur no matter what.... torrez will be good at Cruiserweight I agree....just terrible to see what happened
— Michael rueda (@wolf2988) September 18, 2019
However others pointed out that Torrez has fought over 100 times and is no slouch, and he too could have turned pro if he wanted.
I don't see why not. Is Torrez a worse boxer than the opponents Jalolov faced in his first six pro contests? Egregious mismatches are unfortunately an accepted part of the sport.
— Jon L (@Jon_Bobcat) September 19, 2019
Torrez is also a full-time athlete who has been boxing internationally for five years
— Ron Lewis (@RonLewis_) September 19, 2019
Jalolov being a pro had nothing to do with this KO, he caught torrez with a good shot that would of knocked out both pros and amateurs, a lot of pro fighters go back and forth to the amateurs it’s no big deal https://t.co/PXlLkgS1Fg
— RAW Chisora (@HH_boxing) September 19, 2019
If Torrez would’ve turned pro this year already he would’ve got a great deal. Instead got brutally KO’d by a pro fighter, stock goes way down. The Jalolov of 3 years ago without pro experience a lot less likely to have done that. Olympic dream not what it used to be! Sad! https://t.co/6z510jkzCz
— Rian Scalia (@rian5ca) September 18, 2019
Torrez has actually had around 120 bouts and the vast majority, so he is hardly some raw kid - you are doing him a huge disservice to suggest he is. Facts are amazing if you bother to do any research
— Ron Lewis (@RonLewis_) September 19, 2019
Torrez OK after sickening knockout
Torrez later took to social media to update fans on his condition.
“I got hit with a good shot. I’m here in the hospital right now,” Torrez said.
“Everything’s perfect, all the tests came back perfect. They’re just here making sure I’m staying OK … back to the drawing board.”
