Fight for Peace boxer Wanderson de Oliveira last month became the first Fight for Peace member to have represented both academies in Rio and London in competition. The 16 year old was in the English capital last month for Fight for Peace’s second Youth Exchange, which saw members from the Rio de Janeiro Academy visit Fight for Peace UK.
Wanderson has been a member of Fight for Peace in Rio since 2009 and was immediately nicknamed ‘Sugar’ for his resemblance to the great boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. The name stuck although the young athlete soon started showing that it wasn’t just his looks that were reminiscent of the former world champion – his classy boxing talent began to get noticed too.
With an amateur record so far of over 20 wins and only two losses, Wanderson de Oliveira is a name to look out for in the future. He most recently caught the eye with an impressive knockout victory in the finals of the Forja dos Campeoes tournament in Sao Paulo in April. LUTA Sportswear, the clothing company that supports Fight for Peace via a 50% profit share, were on hand to capture the moment Wanderson struck gold in a short film on their website, which you can also watch below.
And so to London last month, where ‘Sugar’ was matched to a bout at the RUSS Club in Romford, Essex on an Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) card. The teenage Brazilian entered the ring to a chorus of cheers from his Fight for Peace supporters, the biggest roar of the night.
Up against home club boxer, Lewis Hughes, Wanderson had to show real determination in securing the points decision after three rounds, having lost a close first round. Coming back with a greater work rate and speed in the second and third rounds, the Fight for Peace boxer took the victory, winning the Best Away Boxer trophy in the process.