MIAMI (March 6, 2012) – MO Productions president Carlos Oliveira announced today that the long rumored fight between retired Brazilian living legend, four-time world champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas, and undefeated World Boxing Council South American middleweight champion Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira, will take place June 2 at Conrad Punta Del Este and Resort Casino in Uruguay.
The 10-round Freitas-Oliveira main event will be contested at 154-pounds. The remainder of the card will be announced at a later date.
“Everything was finalized yesterday and ‘Popo’ signed the contract,” Carlos said from Sao Paulo. “We’re all very excited that the deal has been made for what will be a huge event for Brazilians. We have a beautiful venue in nearby Uruguay. The fight will air live on Global TV in Brazil and Uruguay television.”
Oliveira supporters in Brazil are already jokingly saying, “Michael has an opportunity to knockout a politician without going to jail.”
The 36-year-old Freitas (38-2, 32 KOs) is a state legislature in Brazil, where he is a national sports hero and revered in a country preparing to host the next World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. ‘Popo’ has been retired for nearly five years, since his last fight April 28, 2007, but he will come out retirement to take on the popular Oliveira.
Standing only 5′ 6″, Freitas captured the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) lightweight title, in addition to two-time WBO and World Boxing Association (“WBA”) super featherweight championships. The heaviest he has ever fought at is 135 pounds, nearly 20 pounds lighter than the junior middleweight maximum he is expected to weigh for his June 2 fight against a much younger, stronger Oliveira.
Between 1995 and 2007, Freitas defeated Joel Casamayor, Daniel Attah, Juan Carlos Ramirez, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios and Artur Grigorian. Acelino’s only two losses were to the late Diego Corrales and Juan Diaz in his last fight.
The 21-year-old Oliveira (17-0, 12 KOs), rated No. 14 by the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), has fought three times in his native Brazil in an effort to establish himself as Freitas’ successor in Brazilian boxing circles. Born in Sao Paulo, he moved to Miami when he was only two weeks old, and now finds himself training to fight his country’s second-greatest boxer, Freitas, to only Hall of Famer Eder Jofre.
Michael Oliveira
Oliveira’s last three fights have been in three different countries: Sergei Melis (WDEC8) on February 11 in Canada, Xavier Tolliver (WDQ8) on ShoBox in El Paso, Texas, and Abel Nicolas Adriel (DEC10) in Sao Paulo.
The 5′ 9″ Oliveira has gradually dropped weight, originally fighting as a super middleweight, until his last two fights at middleweight. The goal, under the direction of head trainer Orlando Cueller and strength-and-conditioning coach Steve Arintok, has been for Michael to fight at his natural weight of 154, which he’ll be doing for the first time against Freitas.
Oliveira is unique among professional boxers. He comes from an affluent family, attends Florida International University, and had only two amateur matches before turning pro in 2008. An exciting personality in and out of the ring, Michael is a two-time defending Brazilian International Press Award’s
Athlete of the Year (2009 and 2010), and a strong candidate for 2011 honors against the likes of UFC star Anderson Silva.
Go to www.MichaelOliveria.com for more information.
RICHARD PIERSON HEADLINES WEDNESDAY NIGHT FIGHTS ON APRIL 18TH
NEWARK, NJ (MARCH 6th, 2012)—On Wednesday April 18th, boxing returns to the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey with a card that is promoted by Gabe LaConte’s First Round Promotions in association with Greg Cohen Promotions.
In the main event, Super Middleweight Richard Pierson will see action in a eight round bout.
Pierson of Newark came back from a twenty month layoff to take out veteran Anibal Acevedo in just one round on February 17th in Nutley, New Jersey.
Pierson has a record of 10-2 with seven knockouts and has quality victories over the likes of Curtis Jones, Ray Smith, Jimmy Campbell and Jamaal Davis.
In the six round co-feature, John Thompson of Newark will look to remain undefeated against Jamond Bourgeois
Thompsonhas a record of 6-0 with two knockouts and is coming off a third round stoppage over Laureano Laracutene on February 17th.
Bourgeos of Harvey, Louisiana is 4-1 with onbe knockout and is on a two fight winning streak which includes his last effort when he took a four round split decision over Tyi Edmonds on October 14th.
Qa’id Muhammad (6-0, 5 KO’s) will make his return in a six round Bantamweight bout against an opponent to be named.
Joseliz Cepeda (5-2) will take part in a six round Featherweight bout against an opponent to be named
Highly touted Mike Concepcion of Newark, BJ will make his pro debut against Gerald Fisher (1-3) of Atlanta in a Welterweight bout
Aaron Kinch (2-0-1, 1 KO) of Newark will take on debuting Clyde Daniels of New York in a four round Heavyweight bout.
Leandro Acevdo of Newark will make his pro debut against Marcus Clay (0-1) of Baton Rouge, LA in a four round Super Middleweight bout.
Rounding out the card will be the return of undefeated Super Middleweight Joel De La Paz (6-0, 4 KO’s) will fight a four round bout against an opponent to be named.
Tickets for this outstanding night of boxing are $200 (Front Row); $100 VIP and $50 for General Admission and can be purchased at:
Boardwalk Saloon
206 Bloomfield Ave
Newark, NJ
973-483-8766
Elite Heat Gym
130 Mt. Pleasant Ave
Newark, NJ
862-772-2532
Final Round Boxing
156 Algonquin PKWY
Whippany, NJ
973-515-0704
BROADWAY BOXING WEIGH-IN RESULTS
New York, NY (3/6/2012) – All the fighters for DiBella Entertainment’s Broadway Boxing card tomorrow night at BB King Blues Club and Grill weighed-in today at the NYS Athletic Commission’s office. Doors open at 6:30PM with the first bout scheduled for 7:30PM. Below is the complete bout sheet for tomorrow night’s show.
10 ROUNDS -WELTERWEIGHTS
Alex Perez vs. Francisco “Gato” Figueroa
Newark, NJ Bronx, NY
15-0, 9 KO’s 20-3-1, 13 KO’s
145 lbs. 147 lbs.
8 ROUNDS – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Will “Will Power” Rosinsky vs. Zane ” The Train” Marks
Queens, NY Golden Meadow, LA
14-1, 8 KO’s 17-6, 10 KO’s
172 lbs. 170 lbs.
8 ROUNDS – JUNIORMIDDLEWEIGHTS
Delen Parsley vs. Boyd Melson
White Plains, NY White Plains, NY
6-0, 2 KO’s 8-0, 4 KO’s
153 1/2 lbs. 154 1/2 lbs.
6 ROUNDS – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Keisher McLeod-Wells vs. Patricia Alcivar
New York, NY Queens, NY
4-2-1 KO 5-0, 3KO’s
109 lbs. 110 1/2 lbs.
6 ROUNDS – HEAVYWEIGHTS
Tor Hamer vs. Dieuly Aristelde
Harlem, NY Miami, FL
13-1, 9 KO’s 9-4, 2 KO’s
233 lbs. 218 lbs.
6 ROUNDS – SUPER MIDDLWEIGHTS
Badou Jack vs. Grover Young
Las Vegas, NV Memphis, TN
9-0, 8 KO’s 6-5-1, 3KO’s
172lbs. 183 lbs.
6 ROUNDS – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Floriano Pagliara vs. James Lester
Brooklyn, NY Detroit, MI
11-4-1, 7 KO’s 9-6, 4 KO’s
130 1/2 lbs. 129 1/2 lbs.
6 ROUNDS -JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHTS
Luis Rosa vs. Jonathan Alcantara
New Haven, CT Los Angeles, CA
9-0, 5 KO’s 5-6-2, 1 KO
122 lbs. 121 lbs.
4 ROUNDS – JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS
Allan Benitez vs. Ian James
El Paso, TX Brooklyn, NY
3-1, 1 KO’s 1-2, 1 KO’s
133 lbs. 133 lbs.