Freitas vs Corrales for WBO Lightweight Championship on August 7th

28.05.04 – Promoter Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions will present a sensational world championship fight card on Saturday, August 7, 2004, featuring WBO lightweight world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas of Salvador, Brazil, making his first title defense against WBO jr. lightweight world champion Diego “Chico” Corrales of Sacramento, California. This event will be held at Foxwoods Resort Casino, located on Route 2 in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The main event and co-featured fight, which is to be announced, will be televised on Showtime.

Art said today, “We’re very excited about this megafight between two of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in the ring today. This matchup has the potential to be Fight of the Year. Acelino is undefeated with a record of 35-0, with 31 knockouts, and Diego is 38-2, with 31 knockouts. Acelino and Diego are both true warriors and both are in their primes. They have proven themselves against top opposition, and both have shown tremendous heart and determination. Both have shown that they have the ability to get off the canvas to win, and both have the power to end the fight with one punch.”

Acelino, now 27 years old, is 12-0 in world championship fights. He won the WBO lightweight world title on January 3 at Foxwoods with a 12-round unanimous decision against defending champion Artur Grigorian. Acelino won the WBO jr. lightweight world title in August, 1999, and made ten successful title defenses in his four-year reign. He added the WBA world title with a win against defending champion Joel Casamayor by 12-round unanimous decision in January, 2002.

Diego, who is 25 years old, is 5-1 in world championship fights. He won the vacant WBO jr. lightweight world title on March 6 at Foxwoods with a 12-round split decision in the rematch against Joel Casamayor. Diego was stopped on cuts in their first fight in October, 2003. He won the IBF jr. lightweight world title in October, 1999, and made three successful title defenses over the next year.

Details regarding tickets, media credentials, and supporting bouts will be announced soon.