07.08.04- In a terrific bout that lived up to its billing as a leading candidate for Fight of the Year, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Lightweight Champion Diego Corrales spotted previously undefeated WBO lightweight champion Acelino Freitas a big early lead before rallying to register three knockdowns en route to dethroning Freitas on a thrilling 10th-round TKO Saturday on SHOWTIME at Foxwoods Resort Casino. Banner Promotions presented the world title fight, which aired at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast).
Saturday’s telecast included a replay of Danny Williams’ shocking fourth-round knockout over Mike Tyson on July 30 as well as highlights from the World Boxing Association (WBA) 130-pound title fight between champion Yodeshan “3-K Battery” Nanthachai and Steve Forbes “3-K Battery” retained his crown with a unanimous 12-round decision) and a super lightweight bout between former world champion Sharmba Mitchell and Moises Pedroza (Mitchell won by second-round knockout).
Corrales (39-2, 32 KOs), of Sacramento, Calif., scored one knockdown in the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds to triumph in the eagerly anticipated matchup between two of boxing’s most talented, hardest-hitting world champions. Corrales had edged in front on two of the three scorecards “ 85-83, 85-84 and 83-85 — entering the 10th. But he turned an intense bout which featured many exciting exchanges around in the eighth when he dropped the tiring Freitas with a right-left combination. Freitas made it to his feet, but spit out his mouthpiece, which gave him additional time to recover. He also spit out the mouthpiece after going down from a counter right in the following round, but, this time, the referee took a point away. The forever-stalking Corrales knocked down Freitas the last time in the 10th round. After getting up, Freitas indicated to the referee that he had had enough, and the bout was halted at 1:26. Perhaps the most feared pure puncher in the lighter weight classes, the lanky Corrales was making his first start since winning the WBO 130-pound belt with a 12-round decision over defending champion Joel Casamayor on March 6, 2004, on SHOWTIME. Corrales won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 130-pound title with a seventh-round TKO over Roberto Garcia on Oct. 23, 1999, on SHOWTIME.
Freitas (35-1, 31 KOs), of Salvador, Brazil, boxed and moved beautifully during the bout’s first half while setting an incredibly fast pace. Always quicker, he landed numerous solid shots to Corrales’ jaw, often in combination. In the process, he managed to nullify the taller Corrales’ jab. But fatigue set in and Corrales, who surprised many with his ability to take a punch, began to close the gap. Freitas was appearing before a paying audience for the first time since winning the WBO 135-pound title with a 12-round decision over previously unbeaten Artur Grigorian on Jan. 3, 2004, on SHOWTIME. Like Corrales, Freitas was a former world champion at 130 pounds. He captured the WBO 130-pound title with an eighth-round TKO over Anatoly Alexandrov on Aug. 7, 1999, and added the WBA belt by outpointing Casamayor across 12 rounds on Jan. 12, 2002, ON SHOWTIME.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein called Saturday’s action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins, Jr. producing and Bob Dunphy directing.
The next SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast is Saturday, Sept. 4. In the main event, Lamon Brewster makes the first defense of his heavyweight title against Kali Meehan. In the co-feature at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, undisputed welterweight champion Cory “The Next Generation” Spinks will defend against former world champion Miguel Angel Gonzalez.
For information on upcoming SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.