I’ve by no means agreed with these combat “followers” who decide boxers harshly for quitting. Any man or girl who enters the ring possesses braveness that distinguishes them from us non-pugilists. To summon the nerve to show one’s self in a bodily battle in opposition to one other human being requires extraordinary bravery. It’s simple to ridicule a fighter for folding beneath stress, giving up within the face of adversity. However the reality is, the cowards who criticize would by no means be capable to even make that lengthy stroll to the ring.
However quitting in boxing is historically considered as a cardinal sin; doing so sullies a fighter’s repute ceaselessly. That is unfair as a result of one occasion of give up shouldn’t wipe out all different profession accomplishments. You may’t inform me Roberto Duran wasn’t an all-time nice as a result of he threw within the towel in opposition to Sugar Ray Leonard. Wins over Leonard, Palomino, Cuevas, Moore, and Barkley outweigh that one resignation.
The identical might be mentioned for Acelino “Popo” Freitas. His second of acquiescence occurred on August 7, 2004 throughout his light-weight title protection in opposition to Diego “Chico” Corrales. These two fighters, together with Joel Casamayor, shaped a memorable fistic triangle by means of which they’re inextricably linked. This nice trio produced a number of memorable battles in the course of the 1990’s, within the course of bringing one of the best out of one another.
By the point Freitas and Corrales clashed, every had already tussled with the artful Casamayor. In a uncommon match between two undefeated champions, Freitas took a detailed determination over the Cuban gold medalist in January of 2002 to unify the junior light-weight titles and provides “El Cepillo” his first loss as a professional. Casamayor and Corrales then break up two conferences, with the Cuban successful their first battle by a sixth spherical TKO earlier than Corrales avenged that defeat with a break up determination victory, within the course of successful the vacant WBO tremendous featherweight title in addition to an opportunity to tackle Freitas for the light-weight crown.
With 62 mixed knockouts between the 2 fighters, the potential was excessive for Corrales vs Freitas to function loads of explosive exchanges. Nevertheless, within the opening spherical, it was the champion doing all of the harm. As famous in Al Bernstein’s “keys to victory” earlier than the match, Freitas wanted to make the most of lateral motion to maintain Corrales guessing so he might land his highly effective proper. He executed that recreation plan completely within the opening stanza, as he moved and landed plenty of exhausting rights, each as a lead and following the jab.
Freitas’ success continued in spherical two, when he constantly landed hooks with each palms. Regardless of being the shorter man, Freitas was simpler as he bounced round on the surface and intermittently jumped in with fast energy pictures. The decisive issue after two rounds was the clear velocity benefit, each of foot and hand, which belonged to the Bahia native. Freitas additionally confirmed underrated defensive reflexes as he deftly prevented lots of Corrales’ pictures with higher physique and head motion. Corrales continued to stalk however was unable to nook his quarry.
The big contingent of Brazilian followers made themselves heard to start out the third spherical as they supported their man with loud chants and the bellowing of trumpets. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable change in method, as Freitas moved extra and hit much less, expending vitality by bounding laterally, however touchdown energy pictures at a decrease frequency. With slightly below a minute to go within the spherical, Freitas did land a tough overhand proper that momentarily shocked Corrales.
The momentum shifted barely to Corrales within the fourth. Though Freitas as soon as once more landed the sharper punches, Diego utilized large stress. Always transferring to keep away from the searching Corrales was starting to take a bodily and psychological toll on the Brazilian. Freitas was dragged into shut quarter exchanges, and although he was touchdown, so was Corrales. “Chico” landed some good quick hooks to the top and physique to shut the spherical, one by which Freitas confirmed indicators of fatigue.
Freitas recovered by boxing properly within the fifth, as he landed extra rights and combined in efficient physique pictures. Nevertheless, a telling assertion got here from Bernstein early on this spherical: “This can be a very frenetic however efficient efficiency by Acelino Freitas, nevertheless it does lead one to say that, will this adrenaline put on off? Will he decelerate, and can he be a goal for Corrales?” Freitas was clearly successful the early battles, however the warfare was but to be determined.
Freitas’ second wind allowed him to maintain boxing in rounds six and 7, the place he continued to outwork Corrales. On the finish of spherical seven, Freitas landed a left-right-left mixture that snapped Corrales’ head again. Freitas then jumped in and landed two extra exhausting hooks, which ignited Corrales’ warrior spirit. By no means to be outfought, Corrales exchanged with Freitas and landed a pointy left hook of his personal. The spherical ended with the pro-Brazilian crowd loudly approving their man’s late flurries however Corrales’ chin was proving otherworldly. His granite chin saved him marching ahead as he absorbed blows which might have felled most mortal 130 pounders.
Early in spherical eight, the primary loud chants of “Chico” may very well be heard and Corrales responded together with his finest spherical so far. Midway by means of, he countered Freitas with a stinging left hook upstairs and 30 seconds later he pinned Freitas to the ropes and unloaded a flurry of punches punctuated by a missile-like proper that despatched Freitas to the canvas. The champion rose on the rely of six after which benefited from the time it took to retrieve his fallen mouthpiece, further seconds which proved valuable for “Popo.” Freitas spent the final thirty seconds of the spherical on his bicycle, intelligently avoiding any exchanges however Corrales had despatched an emphatic message: “I’m in cost now.” Transferring to the championship rounds, it was Corrales who had his foot on the fuel pedal and Freitas who had his on the brakes.
Corrales’ takeover continued in spherical 9, as he landed a robust proper hook that despatched the champion to the canvas a second time. Freitas rose however was penalized some extent for having spit out his mouthpiece. Corrales was once more dealt an unlucky hand as a result of Freitas then received extra time to get better in the course of the penalty announcement and mouthpiece restoration. Nonetheless, it was a 10-7 spherical for Chico, and extra importantly than the scoring was the truth that Corrales had taken agency management of the combat with three rounds remaining.
With beneath two minutes to go within the tenth, Corrales landed one other exhausting left hook-right hand mixture that wobbled Freitas. Corrales pursued and landed a proper behind the ear that despatched Freitas down a 3rd time. The champion beat the rely and walked towards the referee on regular legs to indicate he was able to proceed. However shockingly, as he walked to the ref, he abruptly modified course, strolling to his nook and waving his hand to sign give up. Corrales vs Freitas was abruptly over.
Regardless of being knocked down 3 times, Freitas by no means appeared critically harm. At no level did he stagger concerning the ring, his legs in a jelly-like state. As an alternative he made a aware determination: he might not deal with Corrales’ intense stress. Thus the distinction between the 2 fighters couldn’t have been extra stark. The challenger arguably misplaced the primary seven rounds of the combat, but he by no means wavered in his willpower. He was satisfied that one in every of his bombs might change the course of the competition and all he wanted to do was land that one shot. It was that sheer need to win that pushed Corrales to victory, and that eroded the boldness and can to win of Freitas. Boxing is usually a battle of wills as a lot as expertise, and on this night time it was Corrales’ dogged willpower that determined the end result.
Regardless of Freitas bending and breaking beneath heavy stress, his profession shouldn’t be outlined by this defeat. He was a two-division world champion, with eleven profitable defenses of the WBO junior light-weight title. Though a victory over Corrales would have enhanced his legacy, his efficiency throughout that combat deserves respect. He confirmed his velocity and energy all through, in addition to the grit to stand up and proceed combating after being knocked down. Sure, he surrendered, however he has nothing to be ashamed of. He fought and took punishment and saved rising from the canvas and battling again. He demonstrated nice coronary heart and braveness, even in defeat, and that’s greater than most of us can say! — Jamie Rebner
