Outside Source
After Belfort’s withdrawal from the fight, several names from around the world posted videos tagging Spaten and offering to box with Silva — from Antonio Rogerio Nogueira to Bob Sapp to Mark Coleman. But given Freitas’ enormous popularity with the general Brazilian public, Spaten opted for him. Since the Sept. 27 event will be broadcast live on Rede Globo, the network announced the fight on Sunday night during its highest-rated program, “Fantastico.”
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Andre Dida, Silva’s trainer, told Sherdog that even though Popó Freitas weighs around 75 kilograms (165 pounds), the fight will have the same rules.
“Wanderlei will have to weigh 95 kilgorams (209 pounds), and there will be eight two-minute rounds. They might just change the glove size. They were supposed to be 12 ounces, but now they might use 14 ounces,” Dida said. “But the goal will be the same: a knockout.”
During the fight announcement on “Fantastico,” Freitas gave his statement.
“Wanderlei is a guy I respect a lot outside the ring, but inside the ring, I have no respect for anyone,” he said. “If it were in MMA, I wouldn’t last at all, that’s for sure. But just because it’s boxing, he is the one who will not last. After the fight, his name will be changed from ‘Mad Dog’ to ‘Dead dog.’”
Despite being the same age (49) “Popo” has been much more active than Silva. He has a professional boxing record of 41 wins — 34 by knockout — and two losses. His last professional fight was in November 2017, when he defeated Gabriel Martinez. However, “The Stone Hand” has been competing on the Fight Music Show against influencers, celebrities and athletes from other sports, such as Whindersson Nunes, Jose Pele Landy, Jr. Duble, Kleber Bambam and Duda Nagle, the latter in a fight held on Oct. 12. The fact that Freitas defeated Pele Landy in boxing rules via TKO in 2022 will certainly bring a lot of spice to the fight. Pele was able to land knockdown on Freitas but ended up falling three times in a row to force the referee to wave off the bout.
Silva, 49, has a professional MMA record of 35-14-1 with one no contest. The “Mad Dog” hasn’t fought since 2018, when he lost his fourth bout to Quinton Jackson. Silva’s last MMA victory was a knockout over Brian Stann in 2013.
Spaten Fight Night 2
Boxing: Acelino Popo Freitas vs. Wanderlei Silva
Boxing: Beatriz Ferreira vs. Maira Moneo
Boxing: Hebert Conceicao vs. Yamaguchi Falcao
MMA: Thiago Manchinha vs. Wanderson Barcellos
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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