For ‘Prince’ Ray Oliveira Jr. (10-4, 2 KOs), the opportunity arrives on February 7th, when the 35-year-old New Bedford, Massachusetts native headlines ‘Winter Brawl 2026’ against Rhode Island's Victor Reynoso (11-0, 7 KOs) in a New England welterweight showdown. The main event tops a seven-bout card at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Limited tickets remain for fight night – purchase yours now at CES Fights. On paper, Reynoso brings momentum, power, and the sheen of an unblemished record.  Oliveira Jr.’s record defines a man who has gained perspective from years of preparation, sacrifice, and hard luck in fights that didn’t always materialize. "I’m just here to handle business," said an introspective Oliveira about the bout.  "I miss getting in the ring and doing my thing, and I’m ready to go out there and perform."

 

Raised in New Bedford and immersed in boxing from birth, Oliveira Jr. carries a name that resonates through New England gyms. His father, former IBU welterweight champion Ray ‘Sucra’ Oliveira, was a mainstay on USA’s popular ‘Tuesday Night Fights’ series.  ‘Sucra’ instilled in Ray Jr. an early respect for both the highs and lows of the sport. That upbringing didn’t just teach him how to fight – it taught him how to wait.

 

"A couple years ago, I actually decided I was gonna retire," admitted Oliveira Jr., who stepped away from the ring in 2021 before returning last February. "I had another child, my wife and I bought a house, and I started a career in construction. I was enjoying my life as a father and a husband."

 

Ray’s decision wasn’t based on falling out of love with boxing. It was about accepting reality and responsibility. "The biggest thing was my inability to find competitors that wouldn’t back out," reflected Oliveira of the key reason why he stepped away. "I’d go through three or four opponents and still not end up with a fight. You train, sign contracts, do press, live the lifestyle, and then there’s no fight."

 

That grind, Oliveira explained, is what fans rarely see. "They assume you're getting paid for one day's work, but that’s not the case. There’s so much preparation – mental, physical, spiritual, that happens in a six-to-eight-week camp. You sacrifice time with your loved ones, and when there’s no result, it’s disheartening."

 

Family ultimately tipped the scales in favor of a civilian life. "I love my children. I love being a family man," he said. "For me, the family is more important than boxing. It didn’t make sense to take all that time away from my family and bring nothing back."

 

Still, the fight never left him. "It’s in me. It’s always in me," Oliveira confessed. "I’m a fighter. That’s why I came back last year and why I’m challenging myself on February 7th."

 

Across the ring from Oliveira on February 7th will be Reynoso, a tall, rangy fighter who often enjoys engaging in slugfests.  "I’ve got a lot of respect for my opponent for taking this fight," Oliveira said of Reynoso. "He’s undefeated and he likes to go to war.  I’m well known for my power, so he’s taking a big risk. I appreciate him agreeing to combat with me."

 

Fighting close to home, Reynoso carries the confidence, swagger, and momentum of an undefeated prospect. Oliveira represents something different: experience, patience, and an understanding that moments like this are earned, not given.

 

There’s another layer to fight night as well. Ray 'Sucra' Oliveira will not just be ringside watching the action, but he will be in his son’s corner serving as head trainer. "It makes my heart beat a little fast having my dad there," said Oliveira Jr. "It definitely makes me want to fight harder and come out with the victory."

 

On February 7th, under the bright lights of the Park Theater, this fight represents more than a regional turf war, it will be a meeting of timelines.  A main event where youth meets experience and where Ray Oliveira Jr. looks to claim a moment that he’s waited long enough to enjoy.