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Freitas-Raheem speak.....
http://www.fightnews.com/ploof24.htm
April 30, 2006
By Scott Ploof
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On Saturday night, at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, CT, Acelino "Popo" Freitas (38-1, 32KO's) became a four-time world champion by capturing the WBO lightweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision victory over a top challenger in Zahir Raheem. Moments after the fight, both fighters attended the post-fight press conference to speak with the media.
Acelino Freitas arrived at the podium and began singing to the several fans still in attendance in his native language of Portuguese. He continued to speak for several minutes to his fans in celebration. The crowd in response began chanting, "Freitas, Frietas" in approval.
The promoter of the event, Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions, kicked off the press conference by saying, "I just want to thank HBO for a terrific show. Foxwoods is a great host, a great place to be." Pelullo then introduced Zahir Raheem to the media. Bob Arum was not in attendance at the post fight press conference.
Pelullo then stated that, "I would like to introduce Zahir. He is a great athlete and it was a great fight, very close. It could have gone either way. Zahir, it was a terrific show sir."
At first it appeared as though Zahir did not want to speak to the media when given the opportunity, however he did answer their questions.
When asked about the fight, Zahir Raheem stated to the media, "It was a very awkward fight. I don't think that it was a very crisp, sharp and clean fight. Sharp punches and combinations being thrown, and I got hit with a lot of good shots. It was a very ugly fight, and I felt it was ugly. I didn't feel real like I was slipping and throwing a lot of punches, or getting caught with those sharp punches. It was a real ugly fight. It was a dog fight. Styles make fights, and that is how it turned out."
Raheem was asked if he felt if he would have had an easier fight if he would have had more lateral moves. Zahir responded by saying, "No, because you have to realize that Freitas is an aggressive fighter. He is aggressive, and that is the way that he is used to fighting, guys that can move like that. So I wanted to give him a little bit, I stayed in the center of the ring and I did not move. I didn't come forward, but I stayed and he kept circling and circling, something different that I have never done before."
Zahir Raheem was then asked about how he felt, there were a lot of power shots being thrown. "Well according to punch stats, I thought that is what wins fights. If you throw and you land the harder blows, and you land the more effective blows, and you land the more punches than your opponent, then I believe that would cause you to win the fight. Or is it the person that scores the less punches, wins? I thought I won the fight. I thought it was a close fight. I give "Popo" Freitas a lot of credit, he is a good fighter. He won the fight and I got another bad break," said Raheem.
Raheem was then asked by the media if he wanted a rematch with Freitas. He responded by saying, "Absolutely, if I can get a rematch, I will take it."
The media asked Raheem what he would have liked to have done differently in the fight. Raheem stated to the media, "Should I say out punch him? Throw more punches than him? Land the bigger blows? Should I say that? No I can't say that, because I already did that. So what could I do to win? Knock him out to win, I guess."
"I mean he fought a little awkward, but I am not going to say that he threw me off, because my game plan was to keep him in the center of the ring, and that is what I did. He has a little more awkward of a style than I originally thought."
Raheem was asked about when going into the last round, did you felt that you needed that round to win the fight. "I wanted it, and I wanted the fight like I wanted the last round."
Acelino Freitas was then asked about who he would like to fight next. Acelino stated to the media, "I want to enjoy my belt. I want to enjoy my family, and go back home. That is the promoter's job. Who ever they put in front of me, I'm ready for."
Acelino's trainer was asked about grading his fighter's performance. His trainer responded by saying, "I would give him a C+ today. Basically with Zahir Raheem, he is such an awkward fighter, so it was a difficult fight."
The media then asked the promoter, Art Pelullo of Banner Promotions, if he would like to see his fighter, Acelino Freitas, take on the winner of the next fight between Diego Corrales and Jose Louis Castillo. Pelullo emphatically stated, "Absolutely, absolutely a rematch, we want the winner."
Art Pelullo then thanked the members of the media for attending the press conference thus ending the festivities for the evening at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, CT.
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Originally Posted by Unknowndonor
Exacly what he did with Erick. Raheem should get out of the business and go into WWE.
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