Ray Oliveira Fails Foxwoods Physical, Echols Steps In

Ray ‘Sucra’ Oliveira, a one time light welterweight contender attempting a comeback at age 41 as a light heavyweight, five years out of the ring, has failed the pre-fight physical at Foxwoods. The announcement put Oliveira’s comeback on hold.

Many in the boxing world had expressed concern that Oliveira had taken too much damage after having been through too many brutal wars, and a comeback forty pounds over his previous fighting days was beyond reach.

Oliveira last won a bout on October 1, 2004, a twelve round decision over Hicklet Lau for the IBU welterweight title. Two months later, Ricky Hatton knocked Oliveira out in the tenth round of a World Boxing Union Light Welterweight title bout in London. His career ended when the ‘Drunken Master’, Emmanuel Augustus, stopped him in the eighth round of a bout in July 2005.

The CES Boxing website publicizing the ‘Last Man Standing’ card at Foxwoods Casino on Saturday October 2, 2010, stated only Oliveira had not met the doctor’s requirements for his scheduled comeback bout against light heavyweight contender Joe Spina. According to CES, Spina’s new opponent became former middleweight contender Antwun Echols, who had been scheduled to fight on October 2 against Miguel Hernandez at Horseshoe Casino in Indiana but agreed to step in as a last minute replacement for Oliveira at Foxwoods.

Whether Oliveira does fight again is a big question. He turns 42 on October 6 with a career record of 47-11-2 with 33 knockouts, at weights between 133 and 152 pounds during 1990-2005. At the age of 42 and nearly 25 pounds heavier in the light heavyweight division he may want to consider other options.