Acelino Freitas has released a new statement following his contentious bout with Wanderlei Silva. The former two-time boxing world champion faced Wanderlei Silva in the ring in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday night.
Controversy erupted after the UFC Hall of Famer was disqualified for repeatedly landing headbutts during their exhibition boxing match at Spaten Fight Night 2. Wanderlei Silva was knocked out cold during a mass brawl that erupted in the ring between members of both teams post-fight.
Acelino Freitas Issues New Statement from Hospital
Wanderlei Silva`s opponent, Acelino Freitas, initially apologized for the chaotic scenes that unfolded after their fight. Now, Acelino Freitas has released a further statement after his son, Rafael Freitas, was identified as the individual who knocked out Silva during the chaotic post-fight melee.
The 41-2 boxer, known as ‘Popo’, addressed rumors of a premeditated attack on Silva, all while criticizing ‘The Axe Murderer’ for dirty tactics during their fight, speaking from his hospital bed.
“I`m in Salvador, at the hospital, admitted and under observation. I`ll be undergoing a surgical procedure tomorrow and will share more details with you all as soon as possible,” Freitas captioned his latest Instagram post.
“What I would certainly like to be doing right now is celebrating the victory! We claimed the Spaten Fight Night belt, and nothing that transpired will overshadow this epic moment for boxing and Brazilian sport.”
“Regarding the audios and videos you`ve all been seeing, don`t be misled. Never, under any circumstances, would my team and I premeditate post-fight chaos. I have decades in boxing, with the principles of the noble art naturally woven into my life… and I`ve never been involved in anything of the sort, much less my team and my children!”
“They are trying to attribute to us conduct that is common among those associated with the opposing team.”
“In any case, only one image dominates the show prepared by Spaten: that of my victory, punishing Wand round after round – which destabilized him, leading to illegal measures, dirty play, and disqualification for unsportsmanlike actions, when ONLY HE AND I were in the ring.”
“May God watch over me during this medical procedure! And may I soon fully recover from the savagery of those who should have been there to absorb and de-escalate any misunderstanding – not the other way around.”
“Everything passes! I am convinced that I will return even stronger! And I`ll fight high-level individuals who respect boxing as much as I do.”
Wanderlei Silva`s 3:30 AM Health Update
In the early hours of Monday morning, Wanderlei Silva provided an update on his health after suffering a highly publicized KO. The 49-year-old MMA icon complained of a `persistent headache` when he first broke his silence on Sunday. A few hours later, the pain prevented him from sleeping and prompted another visit to the hospital.
“Yes, my situation really isn`t good,” Silva stated on his Instagram story. “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, well, not tomorrow, but in a little while, right? I`ll have to go to the hospital for more tests.”
Neville Whittle