Brazilian boxing icon Acelino “Popo” Freitas has released a new statement following his contentious exhibition bout against UFC Hall of Famer Wanderlei Silva. The fight, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, quickly devolved into chaos when Silva was disqualified for repeatedly throwing headbutts. The situation escalated dramatically post-fight, resulting in a brawl where Silva was knocked out by Freitas`s son, Rafael.
Acelino Freitas Addresses the Uproar from Hospital Bed
Currently undergoing observation in the hospital for an upcoming surgical procedure, Freitas firmly denied any allegations of a premeditated attack on Silva. He underscored his decades-long career in the “noble art” of boxing, asserting that neither he nor his team would ever engage in such unsportsmanlike conduct. Freitas also emphasized his clear victory in the ring, highlighting Silva`s “dirty play” and subsequent disqualification for “anti-sports actions.”
In his recent Instagram post, Freitas stated:
“I’m in Salvador. At the Hospital. Boarded. In observation. Having a surgical procedure tomorrow, I’ll pass on more details with you all as soon as possible. What I would like to be doing right now was, for sure, celebrating the victory! We took the belt from Spaten Fight Night and nothing that happened will overshadow this epic moment for boxing and Brazilian sport.”
He continued, directly addressing the conspiracy theories circulating:
“With regard to the audios and videos you guys have been watching around, don’t be manipulated. Never, under any circumstances would – my team and I – premeditate post-fight confusion. I have decades of boxing, with the principles of the noble art naturally woven into my life … and I’ve never been involved in any of that, let alone my team and my kids!”
Freitas concluded by reiterating his dominance during the fight:
“Anyway: there’s only one image prevailing in the show prepared by Spaten: that of my victory, punishing Wand round after round – which unbalanced him, to the point of all illegal measures, playing dirty and being disqualified for anti-sports actions, when ONLY HE AND I were in the ring.”
Wanderlei Silva`s Post-KO Health Update
Meanwhile, Wanderlei Silva provided a concerning health update in the early hours of Monday morning, just hours after his widely circulated knockout. The 49-year-old MMA legend reported a persistent, throbbing headache that had prevented him from sleeping, necessitating another visit to the hospital for further medical tests.
Silva shared his condition via an Instagram story:
“Yeah, my situation really isn’t good. Look at my eye. It’s half past three in the morning now. I can’t sleep because my head is throbbing too much. And tomorrow, not tomorrow, in a little while, right? I’ll have to go to the hospital for some more tests.”
