We’re shocked and saddened to announce the passing of former heavyweight boxer and very long time Fightnews.com® Worldwide Editor Ray Wheatley on the age of 74.
Ray handed away this morning in a Sydney hospital following an operation. Ray was a luminary on the Australian boxing scene for a few years. After his boxing profession ended, he turned a boxing official, an IBF government, revealed “World of Boxing,” and was inducted into the Australian Boxing Corridor of Fame.
“Ray was a part of Fightnews.com®’s authentic crew,” mentioned Fightnews.com® Editor-in-Chief Karl Freitag. “He coated Aussie boxing for us for almost 24 years. He liked boxing, was a terrific reporter, and a terrific man. He will probably be missed by all in boxing. Thanks for every thing Ray. Relaxation in peace, expensive pal.”
* * *
Former Australian Nationwide Boxing Federation president John McDougall wrote:
It’s with profound remorse that I counsel the Australian Boxing fraternity of the dying of 1 our most liked members, Sugar Ray Wheatley. I used to be suggested of this a couple of moments in the past and a shock certainly to me as will probably be to all. Ray handed away at 2:30am this morning in hospital following an operation.
Ray was a large amongst males, not solely in stature however in his very being as a person. An important household man and pal to all he will probably be deeply missed.
Ray was born on July 25 1948 and boxed as a heavyweight and in his third battle boxed the good Tony Mundine and was the one Australian, as I recall, to ever put Mundine within the canvas in a bout. His document stood at 11-12-1 and he boxed from 1969-1985. That was an period of nice fighters on this nation and Sugar received and misplaced among the many greatest.
It was his later profession that he scaled the heights. He educated, managed and promoted. There was nothing he didn’t do in boxing. He refereed and judged each right here and all around the world. He was a choose at 4 of Kostya Tszyu’s world title bouts amongst so many World Title appointments and he was extremely revered all through the typically loopy world of boxing.
He was elected Vice President of the IBF, such was the regard that he was held in. He continued on this place for a few years and amongst many world title bout supervisor honors, he was appointed to was one of many nice Evander Holyfield’s Heavyweight title defenses. Ray based and edited World of Boxing and Title Battle magazines on this nation for a few years. Magazines that had been extraordinarily in style, such was his writing and boxing data, along with famous writer and shut pal Grantlee Kieza.
Ray was awarded an OAM, was awarded the Snowy Robbins Trophy from the NSW Veteran Boxers Affiliation and was inducted into the Australian Nationwide Boxing Corridor of Fame in 2012 in recognition for his companies to Boxing.
Ray was an individual of nice integrity and as type and pleasant a man as one may ever meet. His capability and magnificence when conducting his interviews put all at their ease as he was so favored and admired by all. One of many few folks of whom I can say honestly that I by no means heard a nasty phrase spoken of him.
I’m extraordinarily proud to have recognized him as a pal. To his pretty spouse Vicky and his household on behalf of the entire boxing world could I move on our deepest sympathies and condolences. They’ve misplaced a liked husband and father. Boxing has misplaced a terrific pal and really certainly one of our biggest.
Might he relaxation in peace.