New Ray Oliveira fights for IBU title Jan. 11
07.01 - PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island - The "new" Ray Oliveira will be unveiled Saturday night (January 11) against "14-Karat" Golden Johnson in the 12-round co-main event on the "Winter Warriors" card, promoted by Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports. for the vacant IBU World Welterweight Championship.
"Sucra" Ray (43-8-2, 20 KOs), of New Bedford (MA) and Pawtucket (RI), and Johnson (22-7-2, 16 KOs), of Texas, will fight for the vacant IBU World Welterweight Championship. Oliveira is known as a "punching machine" and he holds records for most punches thrown in a fight and round.
"Everybody thinks of me as a guy who throws a lot of punches," Ray said. "Saturday night you're going to see the new Ray Oliveira; I'll be throwing knockout punches. This is a world title fight. I've been training hard for more than two months. I'm ready. I'm going to dominate. This guy is getting knocked out, plain and simple.
Oliveira, 34, plans on fighting only two more years. He holds victories against former IBF light welterweight champions Vince Phillips and Charles Murray (twice), as well as present WBA & IBA light welterweight title-holder Vivian Harris. Ray is 13-1-2 the last five years since his 12-round loss to 2002 Fighter of the Year, Vernon Forrest.
The 7-bout show at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence also features Providence lightweight Gary "The Tiger" Balletto (25-1-2, 22 KOs) against Wilson "Topadora" Galli (31-8, 13 KOs), of Uruguay, in a 10-round co-main event.
Providence super lightweight "Steamin'" Josh Beeman, 2000 Eastern Olympic Trials gold medallist, making his long anticipated pro debut in a 4-round special attraction against Arnold Hill.
The undercard is loaded with New England featherweight prospects Angel Torres (9-2, 3 KOs), of Manchester (CT) versus Jose Ayala (6-2, 1 KO), of Lowell (MA), in a six-rounder; middleweight Bobo Starnino (1-0), of Providence, against Hudson (MA) veteran Manny "Cheeks" Teo, and light heavyweight Joe "KO Kid" Spina (6-0, 4 KOs), of Providence, against William Bailey, of Norfolk, Virginia, in a pair 4-round matches.
Two-time Canadian National amateur champion, popular Narragansett (RI) super lightweight Jaime Clampitt (8-2, 2 KOs), rated as high as No. 3 in the world, is also slated to be on the Jan. 11 card.
All bouts and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets for "Winter Warriors" are priced at $51.50, $31.50 and $16.50. Call CES to order tickets or for more information at 401.724.2253. Tickets are also available at the Dunkin' Donuts Center (401.331.2211) or all TicketMaster outlets.
