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Photo by: Jade Matarazzo

MIAMI (Apr. 19, 2009)
– For four invaluable weeks at the Normandy Gym in North Miami,
undefeated middleweight prospect “Chairman of the
Board” Michael Oliveira (11-0, 8
KOs), the heir apparent to retired Brazilian boxing star Acelino
“Popo” Freitas,
acted more like a sponge than a young prize fighter.

The 19-year-old
Oliveira, who is trained by Danny Hawk at Normandy Gym, absorbed everything he
heard or viewed from the Hall of Fame-bound boxer also training in the North
Miami gym, Bernard Hopkins, who had set-up training camp there to prepare for
his eventual victory last month against Roy Jones.

Oliveira, living and
fighting out of Miami, is unique among contemporary professional boxers, coming
from an affluent family, attending Miami Dade Community College, and
having only
a two-match amateur career.

“I didn’t spar with
Bernard,” Oliveira explained, “but he pulled me aside each day for about 15
minutes to teach me his personal moves. He told me not to forget anything,
because he was only teaching me once, and I learned a lot from him. He
taught me
that age was just a number, to put my mind and heart into training, and with
determination you can conquer anything. Anything is possible if you train hard,
he stressed.”

Watching Hopkins
workout live also benefited the talented teenager. “He is very, very
calm in the
ring,” he noted. “He never wastes unnecessary energy; he’s not fidgety, he
glides around the ring. And he’s very, very focused on his opponent. I noticed
that he only throws a punch when he’s almost certain it’ll land. I just
listened, watched and took everything in. It was a great
experience.”



Oliveira
Enjoyed Brazilian Celebration Last Weekend

Michael received his
award as the 2009 Brazilian Athlete of the Year this past Friday night at the
Brazilian International Press Awards ceremony in the Amaturo Theater at the
Broward Center for Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. The following
day Michael
was a special VIP guest in front of 20,000 at Brazilian Day festivities in
Miami.


Oliveira is slated to
fight April 30 on a show at Miccosukee Resort in Miami, tuning-up for his
proposed homecoming, August 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“I’ve been training,
sparring and pushing my body to the limit with Danny at the gym.” Michael
concluded. “The hardest part of boxing is training. Fighting is easy because
you’re in top shape and do what you’ve been practicing. I can’t wait
to get back
in the ring to fight.”

Go to www.MichaelOliveira.com for more information about
Michael. Oliveira’s valued sponsors include The Confianca Moving, The Beira –
Mar and Pro 1 from Sao Paulo, Dumonde Travel (Michael’s official travel agency)
and the multi-national fuel company, Shell.