08.08.04 – By Wray Edwards: With those simple words, Acelino Freitas 29, became human to us, himself, and the people of Brazil. Gone was the unblemished record of his perfect career. With patience and skill, Diego Corrales (photo: Tom Casino/Showtime) weathered six rounds of slick movement and dominant punching by his adversary from South America, and then wrote new chapters in his life, and that of his opponent.
With obviously improved boxing skills, and what appeared to be a strengthened chin, Corrales chased the dancing Acelino around the ring. The first six rounds were close, with the edge going to Freitas in at least five. Freitas delivered some very effective combinations which stung Diego, and had him reeling a couple of times. About 151 of round four, Corrales put his left glove behind Freitas’ neck and began pounding Acelino’s body over and over. Ortega was to Corrales right, and was bent over to judge the body shots…he didn’t see Diego’s neck-hold. Going over the “hump” of the fight, the last minute of six and the first minute of seven saw a subtle shift in momentum, punch-rate and aggressive direction.
Possibly tiring from his frenetic dancing and dodging of the first half of the fight, Freitas spent more and more time getting closer and closer to the ropes, rather than slipping away. Even though Freitas rocked Diego with severe combinations with 17 seconds to go in the seventh, there was a noticeable shift in Corrales effectiveness, while Freitas’ energetic style began to slow. By then, Corrales had found his punch range on Freitas, and began to counter more effectively. Most of Acelino’s strikes to Corrales’ head, were wingers which had a slapping effect, turning Diego’s head pretty roughly, though not seeming to have any lasting effect. Several were solid to the side of the head though. Conversely, Corrales punches were generally straight in, rocking Freitas’ head back with authority.
Round eight saw an ominous slowing of Freitas movement, and more contact with the ropes. At one point Freitas leaned on the ropes, and began to trade. Diego delivered a withering right cross which sent PoPo to his left, and down, “losing” his mouthpiece. Acelino got up and survived the next forty seconds. Round nine didn’t go much better for the Brazilian. The action continued until Freitas stepped right into a Corrales straight right, which he took flush on the chopper and down he went on his popo, with thirteen seconds to go. As Freitas rolled over to get up, he spit out his mouthpiece which Ref. Ortega spotted, and proceeded to take away one point for “excessive loss of mouthpiece”. Freitas again survived the following few seconds to the end of the round.
As round ten commenced, Freitas looked a little glassy-eyed and showed very reduced mobility. About half-way through the round, Freitas, backing toward the ropes, took a little tag and bent down to swing away. That was a mistake. Corrales stood over him, and launched a punch down to the left rear of Acelino’s head, which drove him to the canvass. PoPo regained his feet, waited the eight count with his mouthpiece hanging out, and stepped toward Ortega…suddenly Frietas veered to his right, made a desultory wave of his left glove and shaking his head, just a little, told Ortega: “No Mas”.
The final blow delivered by Corrales. was a strike to what was at first described by Bernstein as, “back of [Freitas] ear”. The second replay of the fight-ending punch was described as “on the ear area”, and later described, during the final replay, as “the top of his head”. More accurately, it was a punch to the left rear of Acelino’s head, right where the neck joins the skull and directly opposite the medulla. It was a questionable punch, and had the commentators scrambling to describe it in a passable manner. Regardless of the legality of the punch, if it had not been that one, it surely would have been another, which would have finished Freitas’ night, and sooner rather than later.
Corrales is obviously a much improved fighter, and has obviously benefited from his tutelage under the watchful eye of Joe Goosen. He is also fighting at a weight which is better suited to his size and potential. His style has changed from what appeared to be that of a praying mantis, to the tight, controlled power punching of a professional boxer. His ability to take a punch seems to have improved markedly. Corrales appeared to be much healthier, not having to lose that extra five pounds to 130. Corrales is now in a position to display his talents at 135 across the board.
At this writing, and having seen the two Mexican greats claim victory, one is tempted to consider the possibilities. Though Morales seems quite comfortable at 130, his style, opposite that of Diego Corrales would make for a powerful confrontation. Neither would enjoy the height advantage they enjoyed over their most recent opponents. One can dream…can’t one?