By Norm Frauenheim –
GLENDALE, Ariz — Roofs came at a lot of angles. Joey Dawejko has walked them all and never fallen off one.
“I’ve got pretty good balance,’’ said Dawejko, a roofer when he’s not a heavyweight.
It’s the well-balanced heavyweight who will test another well-balanced prospect, Richard Torrez Jr., Saturday night in an entertaining co-main event on a Top Rank, ESPN-televised card featuring super-middleweights Jaime Munguia-Erik Bazinyan at Desert Diamond Arena.
Dawejko (28-11-4, 16 KOs) figures to be a pretty good test of Torrez’ credentials, including a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a perfect record (10-0, 10 KOs).
“He’s a great prospect, silver medalist and all’’ said Dawejko, who was 244.1 pounds Thursday at the official weigh-in on the Desert Diamond Arena floor. “I think it’s the right time in our careers for this fight. Obviously, Top Rank called me to test this guy. Taking this fight was easy for me, because I’ve been in there and am used to different styles.
“I’m ready to show him how the pros work.’’
From roof to canvas, Dawejko, who appeals to the blue-collar in all boxing fans, has the kind of broad experience that is also there in Torrez. Torrez, of Tulare Calif, continues to take dancing classes.
“For my footwork,’’ he said.
Now, he’s added to the course load.
“Tennis lessons,’’ said Torrez, who was at 232.6 pounds Thursday. “Moving around to get a shot at the tennis ball forces you to do even more footwork.’’
Dawejko has learned most of his footwork on roofs. Flat roofs, pitched roofs. He’s walked them all as the owner of his own roofing company in hometown Philadelphia. He’s named it after his ring name. He’ll go back to it, Tank’s Knockout Roofing, after the fight.
“I’ve focused on training through this whole camp,’’ said Dawejko, who wears a tank logo on his T-shirts and caps.
Torrez expects a great fight.
“A really cool battle,’’ he said. “I don’t think we’re going to take back steps too much.’’
