Boxing Prospect Oliveira Wins Brazilian Athlete Of Year Award

Unbeaten middleweight boxing sensation, “Chairman of the Board” Michael Oliveira (11-0, 9 KOs) has been officially selected as the winner of the Brazilian International Press Award’s 2009 Athlete of the Year Award.

The 19-year-old Oliveira, living in Miami and attending Miami Dade Community College, is the heir apparent to retired Acelino “Popo” Freitas in Brazilian boxing circles.

Michael was the leading vote-getter from a group of only 10 nominated Brazilian athletes, including Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves, as well as NBA players Nene Hilario and Anderson Varejao.

“I was honored just to be nominated, never mind selected, as the winner of this prestigious award,” Oliveira said. “I’d like to thank all my fans for supporting me with their votes. I represent all of the Brazilians living back home as well as those in the United States.

“Brazil is always No. 1 in my heart. We take all sports, especially boxing, serious but no matter what the final results, it always ends with Samba music and partying. I’m only 19 and hopefully I can win this award again for years to come.”

The hard-punching teenager, who is the reigning UNBC Latin champion, won each of his eight fights last year, and he hopes to be back in the ring in late April.

The Brazilian International Press Awards ceremony will be held April 17 in the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.