We are shocked and saddened to announce the passing of former heavyweight boxer and long time Fightnews.com® International Editor Ray Wheatley at the age of 74.
Ray passed away this morning in a Sydney hospital following an operation. Ray was a luminary on the Australian boxing scene for many years. After his boxing career ended, he became a boxing official, an IBF executive, published “World of Boxing,” and was inducted into the Australian Boxing Hall of Fame.
“Ray was part of Fightnews.com®’s original crew,” said Fightnews.com® Editor-in-Chief Karl Freitag. “He covered Aussie boxing for us for nearly 24 years. He loved boxing, was a great reporter, and a great man. He will be missed by all in boxing. Thank you for everything Ray. Rest in peace, dear friend.”
* * *
Former Australian National Boxing Federation president John McDougall wrote:
It is with profound regret that I advise the Australian Boxing fraternity of the death of one our most loved members, Sugar Ray Wheatley. I was advised of this a few moments ago and a shock indeed to me as it will be to all. Ray passed away at 2:30am this morning in hospital following an operation.
Ray was a giant among men, not only in stature but in his very being as a man. A great family man and friend to all he will be deeply missed.
Ray was born on July 25 1948 and boxed as a heavyweight and in his third fight boxed the great Tony Mundine and was the only Australian, as I recall, to ever put Mundine in the canvas in a bout. His record stood at 11-12-1 and he boxed from 1969-1985. That was an era of great fighters in this country and Sugar won and lost among the best.
It was his later career that he scaled the heights. He trained, managed and promoted. There was nothing he did not do in boxing. He refereed and judged both here and all over the world. He was a judge at 4 of Kostya Tszyu’s world title bouts among so many World Title appointments and he was highly respected throughout the sometimes crazy world of boxing.
He was elected Vice President of the IBF, such was the regard that he was held in. He continued in this position for many years and among many world title bout supervisor honors, he was appointed to was one of the great Evander Holyfield’s Heavyweight title defenses. Ray founded and edited World of Boxing and Title Fight magazines in this country for many years. Magazines that were extremely popular, such was his writing and boxing knowledge, in conjunction with noted author and close friend Grantlee Kieza.
Ray was awarded an OAM, was awarded the Snowy Robbins Trophy from the NSW Veteran Boxers Association and was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012 in recognition for his services to Boxing.
Ray was a person of great integrity and as kind and friendly a guy as one could ever meet. His ability and style when conducting his interviews put all at their ease as he was so liked and admired by all. One of the few people of whom I can say truthfully that I never heard a bad word spoken of him.
I am extremely proud to have known him as a friend. To his lovely wife Vicky and his family on behalf of all of the boxing world may I pass on our deepest sympathies and condolences. They have lost a loved husband and father. Boxing has lost a great friend and truly one of our greatest.
May he rest in peace.
Wow. I’ve been reading his work on this site for years. Rest easy Ray and congrats on a life well lived!
Who is disliking these comments? Show some respect for Ray and his family you pathetic excuses for human beings
I agreed Boon very disrepectable people they are you right lower than pathetic they are scum.
Exactly Boon, weak POS come out and say your issue instead of hitting dislike button like a girly man.
A terribly sad day. Ray was my great friend for more than 40 years. As a teenager I trained in his gym and would then have dinner with him and his wife afterwards. In later years we covered boxing around the world together. Ray loved the sport and he loved writing for Fightnews. He was one of the greatest men I ever met and I will miss him dearly.
Ray has been a wonderful contributor to boxing throughout Australia. He will be sorely missed.
Sad to hear about Ray. To his family my condolences may he RIP. A huge loss to the world of boxing
I had the privilege of getting to know Ray when he came to China. I was working as coach for Zoviboxing in Kunming training fighters and he came for a couple of fights to report. He was a big man, but what struck me most aside from his great work was his gentle nature. RIP Ray.. it was a pleasure to know you.
Thankyou for your dedication to boxing, especially Australian boxing.
Sorely missed
R.I.P
R.I.P Ray. Always enjoyed your content and you were a great ambassador of the sport.
Saddened to hear this. I have been reading his articles for many years on FightNews and you can tell by the sheer volume of articles and the way he wrote that he loved Boxing. Thank you for all that you have done for the sport we all love. RIP
Ray went out on a high. Covering Timmy Tszyu’s big kayo against Ocampo. Loved reading his reports over the weekend & for the last 20+ years. Onya, Ray!
RIP, always read his story’s on here, will be missed.
Rest easy Ray.
I’ll forever hold your stories and memories of my dad and yourself close to me.
Thanks for reaching out and sharing all those stories.
Thinking of your family and give dad a hug from me xo
Always liked reading his articles. Honest and Fair.
A big thank you Ray for all that you have done for others. R.I.P.
Condolences to the Wheatley family.
I use to always buy Rays “World of Boxing” which was a magazine (in newspaper format) in the 1990s as a teenager. As an adult I have been reading his articles on fightnews since forever. RIP Ray.
I loved the newspaper format, folded it up under my arm as I walked into work to read it at smoko.
RIP Sugar Ray!
R.I.P Ray, one of Aussies greatest.
Wow, this is sad news. Here today, gone tomorrow. It seems like every other article on here was written by him. I didn’t know anything about him other than he was extremely dedicated to his craft of boxing journalism, especially the the Australian scene, but now learning he was an ex-pro fighter gives his work so much more crediblity. Most people that come on here and write act like boxing authorities and critic the hell out of fighters but wouldn’t dare lace them up and step in the ring themselves, but not Mr. Wheatley. He had a 16 year pro career! RIP Sir!
sad to hear, will miss reading his articles. RIP Ray
May he Rest in Peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones…
RIP, have been reading your stories for years!
RIP Ray very knowledge man of boxing and also a great man too
R.I.P
Damn
I have always appreciated Ray Wheatley’s work here. From what I read from the people who knew him personally, he was a fine man and a great human being. Anytime a longtime fan of the sport, Ray was 74, passes away, it is a great loss. My condolences to his family.