Thell Torrence
Personal Profile

Thell Torrence , born in Arkansas, and attended Lincoln High School in Camden, Arkansas. He was voted "The Best AlI-Around Athlete" when he graduated in 1955. Thell enlisted in the United States Navy in August 1955 and was assigned to the Special Services Division where he participated in basketball and boxing. In August 1959, he left the Navy with an Honorable Discharge.

Following his discharge from the Navy, he gained employment at NI Industrico for 30 years and worked in the following classifications: Chemical Lab Technician; Industrial Relations Representative; Personnel Manager and Facilitator. Thell attended Compton College, majoring in Business Administration, graduating with honors in 1982. He then attended University of California San Diego where he studied Labor Relations, and California State University Domingo Hills studying Production Management. Thell terminated his employment in April 1990 to concentrate and devote more time to his boxing career. His amateur career was exemplary Among the titles and awards received were:

1959 All Navy Champion
1959 San Diego AAU Champion
1959 California Golden Glove Champion
1959 Boxing Writers Fighter of the Year
1959 Recipient Ed Sanders Award

Thell Torrence turned professional in 1959, and was a World Rated Jr. Middle-Weight. One of his most outstanding bouts was with two-time World Champion Denny Moyer in 1964, when he held him to a draw.

Mr. Torrence retired from boxing in 1968, entered the real estate market and later purchased the Hoover Street Gym in Los Angeles, California. ..The training gym of several World Champions. He has trained some of the worlds top boxers, including ten (10) World Champions. Among them are:

Heavy-Weight Champion Riddick Bowe
Heavy-Weight Champion Ken Norton
Heavy-Weight Champion Tony Tobbs
Light -Heavyweight Champion Virgil Hill
Light-Heavyweight Champion Montell Griffin
Three Time World Champion Mike McCallum
Welterweight Champion Hedgeman Lewis
Welterweight Champion Marlin Starlin
Bantamweight Champion Wayne McCoulough

Thell's newest top prospects are:

1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist Super Heavyweight Division Duncan Dokiwari
1996 Olympic Silver Medalist Heavy-Weight Division David DeFigabon
Cruiser-Weight Contender & NABO Champion Sione Asipeli

Thell Torrence is active in boxing, civic and professional organizations. Some of his previous and current affiliations are:

Board of Directors World Boxing Hall of Fame
Managers and Coaches Association
Southern California Boxers and Wrestling Foundations
President Board of Directors NI Industries Federal Credit Union
Southern California Regional Occupational Program
Advisory Member Santa Monica City College
Advisory Member Southern California Business Industry
Director NI Industries Southern California
  Regional Occupational Program
Diploma Plus Program

Thell Torrence is also a Licensed and Bonded Booking Agent.