http://www.secondsout.com/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=19261
Freitas targets Pac-Man punchfest
By Ant Evans
http://www.secondsout.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/Icon/Item/freitas080102bb.jpg
"When Acelino Freitas knocks out Zahir Raheem this Saturday he is right back at the top and the first fight I'll wanna make is with Manny Pacquiao," - so says Freitas's promoter Art Pelullo.
Cutting an animated figure, Pelullo admits he is particularly fond of Freitas, the Brazilian power-puncher he discovered on his 1997 "Boxcino" Latin television series. "I'm very close with Acelino," he said. "I've been with him nine years, I've stayed at his house, we're business partners in Brazil together - you're not supposed to fall in love with fighters but, hey..."
Banner Promotions boss Pelullo is excited because this Saturday at the Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, Freitas has a chance to redeem himself following his August 2004 defeat to Deigo Corrales. In that fight, Freitas elected to box and move rather than use the power which he traded on for much of his double world title winning career and, almost inevitably, was cornered and stopped by 'Chico' when he ran out of gas.
It was the lone defeat of an otherwise impressive career but ridiculous assertions that 'Popo' - dropped in the eighth, ninth and finally tenth rounds - somehow "quit" continue to dog him to this day.
"This fight with Raheem means redemption for Acelino Freitas," his promoter said. "If he'd stayed down when Corrales dropped him in round eight no one would have said anything (derogatory) but he got up and fought and fought until he had nothing left and so instead he gets criticized.
"But a win over Raheem changes everything again. He'll be right back at the top, and from there we can make fights with Pacquiao, Morales, Barrera - even Corrales again. HBO knows Popo is a huge star and this one win will take him back to the top again."
But Reheem is the chronic underachiever from the 1996 US Olympic team who finally got everything so right when he humbled Erik Morales last September. He is a slick box-mover whose lone defeat in a slow burning career was a controversial points decision v Rocky Juarez.
The American is a formidable assignment for anyone - especially for a fighter who could well be 'between styles' as many have suggested slugger turned awkward stylist Fretias has become.
'Popo' went 29 fights with 29 knockouts but since then five men have gone the distance with the man who at one time was the purest power-puncher in the game.
Pelullo agrees that his fighter has to unleash the beast once more to give himself his best chance of victory this weekend.
"This is a hard fight for Popo," Pelullo admitted. "This guy could box all the way to a decision, sure, but that's the only way he can win. He's doesn't have the power to hurt Acelino.
"But Freitas could really take him apart if he goes back to the days where he was knocking everyone out. If he goes back to that, I think he can take out anyone."
We will have to wait and see whether or not that includes the Pac-Man.
Fretias v Raheem will be televised on HBO's Boxing After Dark series and will be for the vacant WBO belt.
Raheem just needs to fight smart if he does he has this victory but if he decides he wants to fight frietas then he is in big trouble. Freitas has too much power and a pretty damn good chin, he is a fighter not a boxer. I would like to see Raheem win especailly after all the shit he has been through in his short career, he still has alot of growing to do as a fighter and a big name and I cant wait to see it because he has what it takes accept a personality.
I'd like to talk about this fight as if it came true, though let's face the realities. This guy is in the big long waiting list of Manny opponents. 2 namely are definitely getting shots before he ever will and he still needs to take on Larios. Manny's schedule is booked well into 07 where he will end up facing Barrera. Will Freitas still be looking for the fight in 07? Let's talk about it again then. Though, I guess I could shoot out a prediction. I'm going with Frietas by late KO I think. Manny gets tagged by too many wild shots when his defense lacks often, and a guy that carries power on those wild shots and actually throws the wild shots as part of his arsenal will KO Manny. I don't think Manny's chin is as great as people would imagine. He hasn't faced a terribly hard puncher as of yet and has been rocked several times by decent punchers.
The Freitas @130 a couple of years ago would've KTFO Pacquiao @130. He can outbox or outbrawl Pacquiao, and there's just nothing Pac can do with the size differential.
However, if these two would fight @130 right now, I wouldn't count out Pacquiao just yet. Freitas has to dehydrate himself to the max. In fact, I heard reports that Freitas is even having a hard time making 135.
I agree, well said bro. ;)
and what happened the first time they fought?
in related news...shouldn't you be hustlin out on the streets? jackin old ladies to get street cred?
I thought so :D
that's what you said when he fought Morales :rolleyes:
and what happened the first time they fought?
in related news...shouldn't you be hustlin out on the streets? jackin old ladies to get street cred?
I definitley think that pacquiao should be considered the underdog against popo especially if he moves up to 135. Popo is the bigger man, i hope pacquiao takes a tune up at 135 before going and fighting popo if they do get the fight done. But a win over popo would be all the more satisfying, i just dont know how pacquiao would handle moving up to an 8th weight division.
I agree totally.
Popo is just too big and has that crunching one punch power. See the Barrios fight. His herky-jerky fight style would also give Manny fits.
Pac doesn't have that same one punch that Freitas carries. And Pac isn't exactly the hardest to hit either.
After Pac manhandled Terible who hasn't been dropped in his 51 fights prior to the 2nd Pac fight, you just gotta have in mind that Pac KOes Freitas. Pac by TKO IMO if they fight.
It would be a bad decision for Pacquiao to go up and fight Freitas at 135 (should Freitas get by Raheem).
Freitas is too big at 135 and wouldn't be too bothered by Pacquiaos punch.
that's what you said when he fought Morales :rolleyes:
He'd better not look past Raheem, but if he does pull off the win, I don't give him much chance against Pacquiao.
I definitley think that pacquiao should be considered the underdog against popo especially if he moves up to 135. Popo is the bigger man, i hope pacquiao takes a tune up at 135 before going and fighting popo if they do get the fight done. But a win over popo would be all the more satisfying, i just dont know how pacquiao would handle moving up to an 8th weight division.
I think it's safe to assume that Pacquiao will not fight @ 135 within the next 3 years or so(or if at all). He can still make weight @ featherweight.
The Freitas @130 a couple of years ago would've KTFO Pacquiao @130. He can outbox or outbrawl Pacquiao, and there's just nothing Pac can do with the size differential.
However, if these two would fight @130 right now, I wouldn't count out Pacquiao just yet. Freitas has to dehydrate himself to the max. In fact, I heard reports that Freitas is even having a hard time making 135.
It would be a bad decision for Pacquiao to go up and fight Freitas at 135 (should Freitas get by Raheem).
Freitas is too big at 135 and wouldn't be too bothered by Pacquiaos punch.
yea if this fight happens and thats a big IF, it will be a good explosive fight while it lasts...Not sure if Pacquiao can win this especially if he moves up to lightweight to fight popo, but at super featherweight i give pac a good chance against anyone.
I think if he is targeting Manny then this match would be a message for Manny.
another thing Freitas was inactive for long time and maybe he change is style he will try to box more than to punch hard.
I actually like a Popo-Pac meeting, but I just can't see it happening within a year. So, I suggest that if Freitas fares well against Raheem (that's an IF), he should cast his eyes in the direction of Juan Diaz, a very exciting fighter.