Spina in unfriendly fight against Oliveira

light heavyweight contender Joey “K.O. Kid” Spina must not only get past his respectful friendship with his next opponent, Ray Oliveira at the Fox Theater, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn on October 2 but also fight at a lighter weight than he is used

“Last Man Standing” is being presented by Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc. (CES), in association with Foxwoods Resort Casino. Spina-Oliveira is being fought at the 168-pound super middleweight limit.

Spina (25-1-2, 17 KOs), fighting out of Providence, puts his undefeated Foxwoods record (6-0, 5 KOs) on the line, fighting at Fox Theater for the first time since his signature victory to date in 2006 against Jesse Brinkley, former star of The Contender, Season One television reality show. Spina stopped Jesse Brinkley with a vicious body shot in the 11th round of a fight Joey trailed so badly he needed a knockout to win. Brinkley is now preparing to challenge IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute for the world title Oct. 15. Spina, who is coming off of a 10-round draw last October against former world champion Lou Del Valle, also holds wins against former world champion Carl Daniels, Jay Pina and Anwar Oshana.

“K.O. Kid” has been knocking on the door for a major fight, but he must defeat his CES stable mate, Oliveira, to get a big money and/or world title fight shot. “I love Ray,” Spina said. “He’s a good friend but this fight is strictly business. He was a great fighter in his time when he fought at 140 pounds, but I walk around at 210 and I’m just too big for him. I’m a big puncher and all of his pitter-patter punches won’t help him. I’m just going to keep coming at him.”

Oliveira, 41, has always been an action fighter in addition to being a 3-time world title challenger. The slick boxer and defensive genius from New Bedford (MA) is a former IBU welterweight, NABF light welterweight and New England lightweight champion. Foxwoods, though, hasn’t been a friendly house for “Sucra,” who is making a comeback to finish his career with 50 pro wins, needing only three more. He has won six of 14 fights with one draw at Foxwoods, including a pair of world title-fight losses there to Jake Rodriguez and Zack Padilla. Oliveira did defeat former world champion Vince Phillips at Foxwoods in 2000. He also holds victories against former world titlist Charles Murray (twice), as well as Saul Duran, Vivian Harris, and Tracy Spann, and he’s also been in against world champions Ricky Hatton and the late Vernon Forrest.

New England super middleweight champion Vladine “Mr. Providence” Biosse (8-0, 4 KOs), a former University of Rhode Island football player, has been added to the “Last Man Standing” card in the 6-round co-feature against upset specialist Ariel “Iron” Espinal (8-15-3, 4 KOs) in a non-title fight.

Tickets, priced at $40.00, $60.00 and $100.00, are available to purchase by calling CES (401.724.2253/2254) or Foxwoods (800-200-2882), going online at www.cesboxing.com or www.foxwoods.com, or in person at Foxwood’s box office.

September 22, 2010