Promoter Art Pelullo stands between Acelino "Popo" Freitas (left) and challenger Juan Carlos "Ranchero" Ramirez after Friday's weigh-in in Chicago. The boxers each weighed the division-limit 130 pounds for their 12-round fight tomorrow night on SHOWTIME. Freitas will defend his World Boxing Association / World Boxing Organization (WBA/WBO) against the former Mexican state champion on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (10 p.m. ET/PT). It will be Freitas' second WBA defense and ninth WBO defense. The SHOWTIME co-feature will match unbeatens Michael Simms and Felix Cora Jr. in a 10-round cruiserweight clash. Pelullo's Banner Promotions will promote the bouts from The UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Felix Cora (left) weighed 190 pounds and Michael Simms tipped scales at 191 at Friday's weigh-in in Chicago. The man in the middle is promoter Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions. The unbeaten cruiserweights collide in a 10-round bout tomorrow on SHOWTIME (10 p.m. ET/PT). In the main event on SHOWTIME, undefeated Acelino "Popo" Freitas defends his WBO/WBA 130-pound titles against Juan Carlos "Ranchero" Ramirez.
Final Press Conference Quotes: Acelino Freitas, Juan Carlos Ramirez
Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime
13.03 - Undefeated World Boxing Association/World Boxing Organization (WBA/WBO) 130-pound Champion Acelino Freitas will defend both of his titles when he takes on former Mexican state champion Juan Carlos "Ranchero" Ramirez on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Saturday, March 15, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It will be Freitas' second WBA defense and ninth WBO defense. The co-feature will match unbeatens Michael Simms and Felix Cora Jr. in a 10-round cruiserweight clash. Art Pelullo's Banner Promotions will promote the 12-round bouts from The UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Ill.
ACELINO "POPO" FREITAS
"I would like to thank SHOWTIME for once again putting me on their network and for everyone involved in the promotion. It is exciting for me to be part of the first major world title fight in Chicago in more than 15 years. I hope lots of my fans turn out to watch or watch on SHOWTIME.
"I have nothing but respect for Ramirez. He has fought great champions and is coming here to win. I know I cannot take him lightly or look past him and am ready for anything and everything he has to offer. I expect a very tough fight against a very determined opponent. People ask me about fighting Floyd Mayweather or maybe Marco Antonio Barrera or Erik Morales, but my only focus and concentration is on Saturday.
"I have been in training for 3½ months. Making the weight will not be a problem. Whether I win by knockout or decision does not matter to me.
"This has been a trying time for my family and me. My father died of cancer a couple months ago and we all miss him very much. I loved my father. I am dedicating this fight to him.''
JUAN CARLOS "RANCHERO'' RAMIREZ
"I am not nervous at all and will not be intimidated. I have never been in the kind of shape I am in now. I trained in the mountains at the same altitude where Julio Cesar Chavez used to work out. I am ready to jump in the ring right now. I am not sure how, but I know I am going to throw a lot of heavy punches and win.
"They are making a mistake if they think I am just going to get knocked out. I have fought a lot of the top guys who were big power punchers but have never been knocked out. I did not come here to lose.
"I do not have any roosters to bring in the ring with me like I do when I fight in Juarez. So there will not be any cockfights. I wanted to bring the fighting cocks with me here to Chicago, but I could not fit them into my suitcase."
