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Corrales knocks out Freitas to capture lightweight crown
Mashantucket, CT (Sports Network) - Diego "Chico" Corrales captured the World Boxing Organization lightweight title with a 10th round knockout of formerly unbeaten Acelino Freitas at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Freitas, who dominated the early action with superior hand and foot speed, began to wear down in the later rounds and was floored in each of the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds. After the final knockdown, Freitas refused to continue, and referee Michael Ortega declared it over at 1:24 of the 10th.
"We had our game plan," said Corrales after the bout, "work behind the jab, bide our time, and take control late. And that's just what we did."
Corrales improved to 39-2 with 32 knockouts with the victory, and added a third world title in his second weight class.
Freitas fell to 35-1 with 31 knockouts.
Freitas landed several straight right hands in the first two rounds, and his foot speed caused the stalking Corrales some trouble. None of the rights from Freitas seemed to do any damage, but they scored.
Freitas continued his movement in both directions in the third round, and Corrales was either unable or uninterested in cutting off the ring. Both fighters landed big punches that snapped back their opponent's head in the final 10 seconds of the third.
The fourth round saw Freitas begin to show signs of slowing just a bit, and Corrales' punches began to find the mark more. Corrales ended the round by landing some heavy shots to Freitas' head.
Corrales began to find the mark with his heavier shots in the fifth round, as Freitas appeared to slow.
With 20 seconds left in the sixth round, Corrales landed his best shots of the bout, a left-right combination that forced Freitas to hold on.
Freitas landed several right hands over the first half of the bout, but to Corrales' credit, be absorbed them and continued moving forward.
Freitas' best combinations came in the seventh round. In the beginning of the round, a left-right snapped Corrales' head back. In the final 30 seconds, a left-right-left combination by Freitas got the crowd to its feet and put Corrales back on his heels.
In the eighth round, a Corrales' straight right hand with 50 seconds left floored Freitas. He rose and took the standing eight count, and then the referee halted the bout for about 20 seconds to get Freitas' mouth piece washed off by the corner and back in his mouth, much to the chagrin of Corrales' corner.
In the ninth, Freitas came off his stool throwing bombs. But Corrales continued coming forward. In the final 20 seconds of the ninth, a crushing right uppercut by Corrales floored Freitas for the second time in as many rounds. Once again, however, Freitas spit out his mouthpiece. While the referee took a point away from Freitas for his antics, he received at least a minute's rest
Corrales handed a huge left hook with two minutes left in the 10th round, and a right hand which landed just behind the left ear of Freitas floored him for the third time. Freitas rose almost immediately, took the standing eight count, then waved his right hand to signal he had enough.
On the undercard, Sharmba Mitchell scored a second-round knockout of Moises Pedroza. Mitchell (55-3, 31KOs) did little more than establish his jab in the first round. He then attacked in the 2nd putting down Pedroza (24-8-1, 21KOs) with a left for a 10 count.
Also, World Boxing Association super featherweight champion Yodsanan 3K Battery scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Steve Forbes. 3K Battery, who was formerly named Yodsanan Nanthachai before officially changing his last name to his sponsor's name, improved to 44-2-1.
3K Battery won by scores of 117-111 on all three judges' scorecards. He dominated the early rounds, then held on as Forbes rallied late.
By The Source
Aug 8, 2004
© Copyright 2004-2005 www.miamifootball365.com
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