Former IBF Vice-President and Australian Boxing Hall of Famer Ray Wheatley Dies at 74
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Sydney, Australia (June 21st, 2023)– Australian Boxing Hall of Fame member Ray Wheatley, a 24 bout heavyweight veteran, trainer, manager, promoter, official, and former International Boxing Federation Vice-President, has passed away at age 74 in Sydney, Australia, after complications from surgery. The founder and editor of World of Boxing and Title Fight magazines in Australia, Wheatley was an OAM and 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.
In a statement by the World Boxing Council, the WBC stated “We are shocked and saddened to announce the passing of former heavyweight boxer and longtime 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 the Fightnews.com original crew,” stated 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 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 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. 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.”
As a veteran heavyweight, Wheatley posted a professional record of (11-12-1 Ko) between 1969 and 1985, though he was inactive between 1972 and 1982. Wheatley forged on and remained one of Australia’s most prominent and colorful personalities in the world of boxing in his lifetime.
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