Top Rank Now Has Every Male U.S. Olympian From 2020 Olympics Under Contract
Top Rank Inc has made a healthy investment into the future of the sport of boxing as over the last two weeks they have made it official announcing the signings of Richard Torrez Jr., and Keyshawn Daivs, both of whom are 2020 Olympic silver medalists.
Keyshawn Davis, lightweight, who was announced would train out of Terence Crawford’s camp with Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, is viewed as the highest ceiling professional of the current Olympic class, and a true blue-chip prospect. Davis reminds me of Lamont Peterson, a pressure fighter with good use of distance, and his peers regard him as being a level above the rest, as only the best in the nation and the world can be competitive with him.
Richard Torrez Jr., super heavyweight, is a spitting image of Tommy Morrison, hailing from Tulare, California, not far from the famed Indian casino, Tachi Place Casino & Resort, that Top Rank used to frequent in its “Solo Boxeo” days. Torrez is an undersized heavyweight, who will be a fan-favorite who fights with an action style as he seeks inspiration from Jack Dempsey, and has aspects of aggression like Evander Holyfield. When Torrez starts fighting, he will be a massive star, if he fights how he did in the amateurs.
Last week, it was announced that welterweight Delante “Tiger” Johnson had signed with Top Rank Inc., and that Johnson, who turns pro in the first bout of the evening on Terence Crawford vs. Shawn Porter. Johnson is often overlooked by the naive, but with a great professional boxer in his corner in, Prenice Brewer, as well a wealth of amateur experience – Johnson might turn out to be the best fighter of this class if everything goes well. Johnson is the most well-rounded and versatile fighter of the lot.
In addition to this, Top Rank had already signed Duke Ragan, who went on to win a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics, as well as Troy Isley, who is a promising blue-chip boxer.
In short, Top Rank now has every single member of the 2020 U.S. Olympic class under contract, which is a healthy investment as given the track record of Olympians in the pros, at least two-to-three Olympians become marquee fighters. It is strange that no other promoters, looked to lay claim to any of the young fighters, as maybe promoters are already looking towards the 2024 Olympics, or maybe their downsizing as companies?
Regardless, the rich got richer, as Top Rank now has a lot of the most coveted young fighters in the country undercontract.