This year’s lone boxing inductee is a well-rounded athlete for in addition to his success in the ring, he was also a standout baseball player and one of Trumbull County’s top distance runners during his formative years.
Born February 28, 1962, he is a 1980 graduate of LaBrae High School where he earned four letters in both cross country and track and field for the Vikings, becoming the first distance runner to represent LHS at the state track meet by qualifying in the 800 meters his senior season in 1980.
He joins his father (P.C. Torres, Jr., Class of 2011) on the all-time hall of fame ledger tonight and along with his mother, Norma, his parents were a driving force in his life as they taught him discipline, humility and unconditional love while never judging others for who they are or where they live.
He came to realize at an early age that such was not the case with others, who tended to look down and treat minorities as lesser individuals, which went against his life teachings so he had to channel his anger and he did so in the ring.
He joined the U.S. Navy upon graduation and while in boot camp, his hostility toward others and thinking his fists were the answer, was noticed by his commanding officer who recommended him for their base boxing team.
He then became a member of the U.S. Navy boxing team on the U.S.S. Comte DeGrasse DD-974.
It was in the Navy that he channeled his aggressions as he boxed during his three-year enlistment with a promising 52-9 amateur record.
He was the 1981 U.S. Navy, 6th Fleet, 132 pound division champion and when his military commitment was up, he moved to Colorado Springs at the end of 1983 and proceeded to win the 1984 Golden Gloves at 139 pounds.
He moved back to his hometown of Warren in 1985 and continued to box under his soon to be mentor, Terry Nicopolis, a highly-respected member of the Warren community and a go-to boxing trainer.
It was Nicopolis who instilled in him that education was just as important as his career and to become a valued member of the community as well as a great boxer.
When his first child, Marissa, was born, he stepped away from the game to become a full-time father, returning in 1999 as a trainer.
It was when his mother passed away in February of 1999, that his direction in life became clear as he opened the same gym that he once thought was only a dream, making her proud of his decision.
19th Annual Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame set for October 30(Opens in a new browser tab)
Opening that gym helped him realize that he made the right decision as he spent the year training the kids and always wanting to fight professionally, he went 2-0 with 2 KO’s then devoted his all to helping the new breed of up and coming boxers.
His personal goal accomplished, he walked away from the professional ranks and showed his students, over 1,000 in all over the years, that anything can happen when you set out to achieve your goals.
For over 15 years, his gym has been open to young adults and other professional boxers looking to realize their dream, keeping his facility a clean, drug-free and alcohol-free environment.
As director and trainer of his Warren Boxing Association, his facility from 1999-2014 produced national tournament qualifiers Zack Page, Nate Adams, Josh Kroesen and Carrie Foil for the Golden Gloves, sent Steffin Gantt and Darrell Spencer to the Silver Gloves and professionally, produced the nation’s No. 4 ranked heavyweight in Missi Field.
He has often dug into his own pocket to help make ends meet and continues to encourage parents of his boxers to become involved in their children’s lives.
He has gone from a rough and tumble child to a well-rounded, highly-respected member of Trumbull County society.
He is married to the former Brenda McKimmie and is the father of four children, Marissa, Kayla, Lorenzo and P.C., IV. He has eight grandchildren, six boys and two girls and resides in Southing
