Freitas To Defend Titles Against Ramirez On March 15 In Chicago

08.02 - Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions, in association with Bobby Hitz Boxing Promotions, will present a sensational world championship fight card on Saturday, March 15, 2003, at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the UIC Pavilion, located at 525 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The main event and co-featured fight will be televised on "Showtime Championship Boxing."

MAIN EVENT - 12 ROUNDS, WBA, WBO 130-POUND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Champion ACELINO FREITAS, 32-0, 29 KOs, Salvador, Brazil vs Challenger JUAN CARLOS RAMIREZ, 29-4, 12 KOs, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

130-pound world champion Acelino "Popo" Freitas, 32-0, with 29 knockouts, of Salvador, Brazil, will make his ninth defense of the World Boxing Organization title and second of the World Boxing Association "unified" title against Juan Carlos "Ranchero" Ramirez, 29-4, with 12 knockouts, of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Freitas gave two sensational performances last year, both televised on Showtime Championship Boxing. In his last fight on August 3, he gave a dominating performance against the WBO's No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger, previously undefeated Daniel Attah (20-0-1), and won a 12-round unanimous decision by scores of 117-110 on all three scorecards. On January 12, Freitas won a thriller in a world title unification fight against previously undefeated WBA world champion Joel Casamayor (26-0). Freitas took a 12-round unanimous decision by scores of 114-112 on all three scorecards.

A 6 ½ year pro, Ramirez is a former two-time Mexican national champion and two-time world title challenger. He has won six fights in a row, including three against former world champions. He has fought top opposition throughout his career, including eight former or current world champions - Cesar Soto, Hector Acero-Sanchez, Jesus Salud, Agapito Sanchez, Steve Robinson, Erik Morales, Luisito Espinosa and Greg Richardson.

CO-FEATURE - 12 ROUNDS, SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS - NABF TITLE Champion ANTWUN ECHOLS, 29-4-1, 26 KOs, Davenport, Iowa vs Challenger ANWAR OSHANA, 23-2, 13 KOs, Chicago, Illinois

North American Boxing Federation super middleweight champion Antwun "Kid Dyn-o-mite" Echols, 29-4-1, with 26 knockouts, will defend the title against Anwar Oshana, 23-2, with 13 knockouts, of Chicago. Riding a five-fight winning streak, Echols has climbed in the world ratings to WBA No. 1, IBF No. 1, and WBC No. 3. Oshana brings an aggressive style to the ring, and always makes exciting fights. He has won two fights in a row, and is 3-1 in his last four.

An exciting lineup of supporting bouts will be announced.

TICKETS:
Ticket prices: $35, $50, $150.
Tickets available at: UIC Pavilion Box Office - purchase in person.
Purchase by telephone or in person at all TicketMaster outlets, or online at
www.ticketmaster.com.