Boxing

Acelino Freitas Retains WBA/WBO 130 Pound Titles

Photo: Tom Casino / Showtime

The Fights Will Be Replayed In Their Entirety On SHO2 On Tuesday, March 18, At 11 PM ET/PT

16.03 - In a devastating performance in a terrific, crowd-pleasing slugfest, undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA)/World Boxing Organization (WBO) 130-pound Champion Acelino "Popo" Freitas successfully defended his titles with a scintillating fourth-round TKO over former WBO International and Mexican state champion Juan Carlos "Ranchero" Ramirez Saturday on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, unbeaten southpaws Michael Simms and Felix Cora Jr. boxed to a draw in a 10-round cruiserweight clash. The bouts, which aired at 10 PM ET/PT from the UIC Pavilion, were promoted by Art Pelullo's Banner Promotions.

Freitas (33-0, 30 KOs), of Salvador, Brazil, rallied from a questionable second-round knockdown to deck the game, hard-trying Ramirez twice in the third. The first knockdown was disputed, but the second came from a picture-perfect right hand. The visibly hurt challenger survived the round, but Freitas continued to pummel him with both hands in the fourth before the referee stepped in to stop the proceedings 19 seconds into the round. The exciting champion, who was making his fifth SHOWTIME appearance, captured the WBA belt with a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Joel Casamayor on SHOWTIME Jan. 12, 2002. This was his second successful WBA and ninth successful WBO defense. The power-punching Freitas won inside the distance for the first time in four starts. He had triumphed by knockout in his initial 29 outings. A living legend in his homeland, Freitas has won 22 starts inside of three rounds. Nineteen of his opponents have fallen in the first or second stanza.

Ramirez (29-5, 12 KOs), of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, fought as gallantly as one could expect and landed his fair of solid shots. He got credit for a knockdown in the second, but it appeared to be a slip. The defeat was the third in as many attempts for Ramirez in world title fights. In his two previous tries, he lost to World Boxing Council titleholders Erik Morales and Luisito Espinoza. Ramirez entered the bout on a six-fight winning streak, including three 2002 victories over former world champions. The former WBO Intercontinental featherweight champion outpointed Jesus Salud on Feb. 15, Hector Acero-Sanchez on Aug. 2 and Cesar Soto last Nov. 2.

Simms (12-0-1, 10 KOs), of Sacramento, Calif., finished ahead on one of the scorecards, 96-94, and lost on one, 96-94. The third judge called it, 95-95. Simms was the 1999 World Amateur, U.S. National and National Golden Gloves champion. A winner of numerous amateur tournaments, he seemingly was a cinch to make the 2000 United States Olympic team, but was eliminated from consideration for disciplinary reasons. Simms, who went 132-32 in the amateurs, was making his first start since stopping Wesley Martin in the second round on Nov. 1, 2002.

Cora (10-0-1, 5 KOs), of Galveston, Texas, compiled a 70-10 amateur record, including two losses to Simms during the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. He felt he had done enough to earn the decision in this one, and was bitterly disappointed when the decision was announced. It was Cora's first appearance before a paying audience since outpointing Rodney McSwain across eight rounds on Aug. 9, 2002.

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