Freitas retains his WBA and WBO super featherweight titles. 

Written by Latinosportslegends.com
Photo by Tom Casino, Showtime

August 10, 2003 -- The pride of Brazil, Acelino "Popo" Freitas had his hands full Saturday night when he faced tough Jorge Rodrigo Barrios of Argentina at the Miami Arena, Florida.

Freitas, undefeated with a record of 34-0, 30 KOs, is coming off a 4 month layoff and looked rusty at times allowing himself to get out-punched and pushed around by the smaller Barrios.

Barrios (39-2-1, 1 ND, 29 KOs), who goes by the nickname of "Hyena" fought relentlessly and constantly pressed the action, despite suffering two deep gashes above his left eye and a ruptured ear drum.

Fretas was clearly ahead going into the eighth round, but Barrios picked up momentum, when he dropped Freitas with a short left hook with about 20 seconds to go. Freitas quickly got up smiling and beat the referee's count of ten. 

The fight continued and Barrios cuts above his right eye were heavily bleeding.  Between rounds, the ring doctor was taking a close look at it, but allowed the fight to continue. Barrios continued his attack, but was getting caught by stiff right jabs by Freitas.

In the final two rounds, both fighters were going at each other in the middle of the ring in round 11. Barrios catches Freitas with a solid combination and he goes down for a second time. This time there was no smile on the face of Freitas as he gets up and beats the referee's 10 count. The fight continues with both fighters beating on each other. Barrios continues to bleed profusely, but is giving Freitas everything he could handle. At the bell, Freitas land a crushing right hand which almost spins Barrios around and drops him head first to the canvas. Barrios is really wobbly but beats the ten count and goes back to his corner.

Barrios staggers up from his corner and comes out to fight the final round. Freitas, sensing the end was near,  attacks Barrios with combinations and straight right hands bringing Barrios down to the canvas again. Surprisingly he gets up, but is barely standing on his two feet. The fight continues, and Freitas rushes in with straight right  which floors Barrios. He gets up slowly, but referee, Jorge Alonso wisely halts the fight at 2:10 of the twelfth round.

When the bout was stopped Freitas was ahead on one scorecard, 106-103. A second judge had Barrios ahead 106-104. The third judge scored it 105-105.

This bout will be replayed in entirety On SHO2 on Tuesday, August 12, At 11 PM ET/PT.

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