Ricardo Torres (boxer)


Ricardo Antonio Torres Tafur, is a former boxer from Magangué, Bolívar, Colombia. He was managed by Billy Chams, owner of the Barranquilla-based firm Cuadrilátero. His brother, Jose Miguel Torres, is also a professional boxer.
During his childhood, Torres wanted to be a professional soccer player, but his father, who practiced boxing in the seventies, encouraged Ricardo to switch gears and concentrate on boxing.

Fight career

Torres began boxing professionally in 2001 and had a torrid streak of 28 consecutive victories with 26 KO's before losing by KO in a vicious battle with Miguel Angel Cotto for the WBO Light Welterweight Title. Torres had Cotto knocked down once during the fight. After the loss to Cotto, he took on Mike Arnaoutis for the same WBO Light Welterweight Title vacated by Cotto and won the belt with a narrow split decision.
First Defense
Date: April 28, 2007.
Place: Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, at Coliseo de la Universidad del Norte.
Opponent: Arturo Morua, from Mexico.
Outcome: Torres won by Unanimous Decision.
Second Defense
Date: September 1, 2007.
Place: Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia, at Salón Jumbo del Country Club.
Opponent: Kendall Holt, from the United States of America.
Outcome: Torres won by technical knockout in the eleventh round, amid controversy.
Third Defense
Date: July 5, 2008
Place: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.
Opponent: Kendall Holt
Outcome: Torres was knocked out 61 seconds into the fight. Before the knock out Torres had sent Kendall Holt to the canvas twice.

Professional record