– He has always been a thrifty type. He manages with little, says manager Roar Sørum to news. Last year, Bernard Torres boxed two fights – both in Norway. He received NOK 12,000 per match. Together with relatively modest sponsorship income and some on-call guards as a kindergarten assistant, that was all he lit in 2023. The featherweight boxer shares a small flat with his girlfriend. They rent it cheaply from her family. This is how he gets by with approximately NOK 15,000 in monthly income (around NOK 180,000 annually). In comparison, the EU’s poverty line was an income of approximately NOK 250,000 last year. Torres’ closest supporters are father and son Sørum – manager Roar and trainer Kjell. They do not earn a penny for their contribution, but do it out of passion for the sport and a strong desire for Bernard to achieve his dreams. CLOSE BOND: Kjell Sørum and Bernard Torres met for the first time at a boxing training session in 2011. Since then, they have achieved great things in the ring. Photo: Henrik Haug Laursen / news news meets Torres in the gym at home in Gran in Hadeland. In a makeshift boxing ring made of simple ropes, in trainer Kjell Sørum’s (63) garage, they train hard day in and day out. The economy makes it difficult to run professional boxing in Norway. He has to go abroad for sparring and matching. It costs a lot of money and takes a lot of the sponsorship income. Torres has just been in London for a little more than two weeks to prepare for the preliminary highlight of his career: on February 16, he will go into the ring against American boxing hopeful Bruce Carrington (26) in the Madison Square Garden Theatre. – It is the most important match of his career. It’s a big fight. If I win, it can open many doors. It will lead to even bigger matches and a better ranking, says Torres to news. Bernard Torres Occupation: Professional boxer Age: 27 Ranking: 48 Birthplace: Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines Residence: Gran på Hadeland Height: 163 cm Nickname: La Maquina (Machine in Spanish) Amateur career: Seven National Championship golds at junior and senior level . One King’s Cup. Professional career: Debut in 2017. 18 wins and one loss. Eight wins by knockout. Source: Boxrec.com – The money is in the USA Almost 13 years ago, Torres and Kjell Sørum met for the first time. It was the start of an adventure for both of them. – We are true amateurs, but we travel around the world to learn all the time, says trainer Sørum. Now New York and the home country await the boxing for “Team Torres”. The coach is clear about what the fight means for Norwegian boxing hopes – A victory would be a breakthrough in the USA. He has no name in the USA, and it is the Mecca of boxers, says trainer Sørum. ROUTINED: Kjell Sørum has been boxing for a lifetime. He feels confident that they have done what they can before the important match. Photo: Henrik Haug Laursen / news In 2021, there were 6.7 million Americans involved in boxing, according to the statistics platform Statistia. In addition, there is a large market for martial arts in the USA, with good sponsorship agreements and large events that provide great financial gain. – The money is in the USA. So with a good match on February 16, he will get a boost, regardless, says coach Sørum. In addition, a victory against Carrington will mean that Torres is guaranteed three new fights with the giant company Top Rank. It will be noticed in the wallet of the 27-year-old. – He gets closer to NOK 210,000 for this match. It’s the best he’s had, says manager Sørum. If there is a win and three new matches, in other words, it will give sums that cannot be compared to what Torres gets for a match in Norway. – He will box in Oslo in April, where he will receive around NOK 10,000, says the manager. TEAM TORRES: Bernard Torres, manager Roar Sørum (in the middle) and coach Kjell Sørum do what they can to reach the top with limited funds. Photo: Photographer BT Stokke – I’m a real underdog In Norway, Torres is the boxer who is most on the way up and forward, according to news’s boxing expert Anders Werner Øfsti. – Bernard has taken steps all the way. He is clearly the male professional boxer in Norway at the highest level, says Øfsti. EXCITED: news’s boxing expert Anders Werner Øfsti is excited about what Bernard Torres can achieve in the USA. Photo: news The boxing expert points out that there are few others who can manage to be both a professional boxer and a kindergarten assistant at the same time. He thinks that says something about the attitude of the 27-year-old: – He is a technically good boxer and dedicated as it turns out. He puts in the work that is needed, even with a small budget. It is one of the biggest sports in the world and there are people who want to become the world’s best in boxing. It requires an enormous amount to be at the top. The fight will be Torres’ 20th pro fight. The Norwegian is ranked number 46 in the featherweight class. Opponent Carrington is number 45 in the world and is unbeaten in his ten professional matches. He is predicted to have a very bright future and was voted “Newcomer of the Year” by the renowned The Ring Magazine in 2023. – In terms of ranking, Carrington is not that high yet, because he has so few pro fights, but skill-wise he is among the five best in his class , says manager Sørum. – He is boxing on his home turf and has everything to lose. I’m a real underdog, but I’m calm and looking forward to it, says Torres. NO ONE ANYWHERE: Bruce Carrington, here after beating Ecuador’s Luis Porozo in New York in 2023. With his 173 centimeters, the American is a feared opponent in the featherweight class. Photo: AP Praises the election: – Really tough Øfsti thinks it will be a “huge” of dimensions if Torres were to win. – It is difficult to see how Bernard will beat him. Carrington is calm and nice in the ring. He doesn’t lose his guard and is good at varying between hitting up and down, says boxing expert Øfsti. Nevertheless, he does not want to write Torres off for that reason and points out that Torres is left-handed, which many find challenging. – Anything can happen in boxing. That is what is so much fun about this sport, says Øfsti. BRAVE: Bernard Torres is not afraid of a challenge and with a former boxer as a father, he decided early on to be the best. Photo: Henrik Haug Laursen / news He praises Torres for daring to take on a real challenge. – Unlike many other professional boxers, he is not afraid of facing better opposition. Some of the male professionals in Norway have been too cautious. Bernard seeks proper challenges. It is tough. Manager Sørum has no doubt that Torres has been brought to the USA to lose against what many predict will be the USA’s next star boxer. – We want to do something different than what they have planned. They will probably be surprised, because something different will come than they expect, he says. Desire for revenge This is not the first time that Torres has appeared in front of the largest audience and the most important people in the industry in the USA. Torres met Frency Fortunato Saya for a fight in Atlantic City in the fall of 2022, but then it was a narrow loss. His only loss to no. SIMPLE COURSE: Bernard Torres and his team have recently been on a training camp in London, but it is in the gym at home in Hadeland where most of the training hours are spent. Photo: Henrik Haug Laursen / news Torres and coach Sørum underline that they have learned from the previous game across the pond. – I think he is very well prepared this time. He has never been better than he is now. I think he will win, says the coach. The good form and self-confidence should come in handy “away”, where he will not get anything for free, according to Øfsti. – He must win clearly and clearly. Preferably on a knockout. Then avoid a problem with the score judges. The WC king surprises with gaming skills 00:57 Admits a crush on Taylor Swift’s girlfriend 01:15 Dental violence over a new house, the Olympic bronze as a slip and “buff-weaning”. 02:42 Played with by 16-year-old: – Have you eaten your brother? 01:22 Show more
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Now Bernard (27) will box his biggest fight – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
