For Elio Ortiz the tip got here in spherical 4 after he visited the canvas a fifth time by the hands of Teddy Reid. Reid himself had been rocked and wobbled greater than as soon as in a sloppy however enjoyable brawl within the Miami Area and it now appeared unlikely that the primary occasion, a showdown between Brazil’s Acelino Freitas and Argentinian contender Jorge Rodrigo Barrios, may exceed the prelim for pleasure and fireworks. However it did, as a result of the ambiance for it to take action occurred to be good.
That stated, the world wasn’t full that evening, not even shut. Solely about 2500 paying clients have been readily available, and but there was no mistaking that battle strains had been drawn. The Brazil vs Argentina rivalry in soccer (or soccer, for those who desire) is a fiercely nationalistic one, performed out roughly annually on the sector, and sure a holdover from armed conflicts between the 2 bordering nations. Regardless of political tensions cooling significantly, the rivalry hasn’t light, even between legends Pele and Diego Maradona. Nonetheless arcane, nevertheless counterproductive, there’s historical past there.
Upon the announcement of Freitas vs Barrios, Sampson Lewkowicz, the supervisor and promoter from Uruguay, stated, “That is the most important struggle that may be made between South People and it is going to be a traditional battle for nationwide satisfaction.” He wasn’t mistaken, and what most followers didn’t understand is that the bout was an extension of a bitter nationalist feud.
Freitas was a fresh-faced celebrity whose private life was fodder for the tabloids in Brazil, however as a fighter he had racked up 29 stoppage wins in a row. His popularity as a knockout artist took a success after he went the space with each Alfred Kotey after which Joel Casamayor, the latter involving a barely controversial choice and a few unhealthy officiating. In Freitas’ subsequent struggle Daniel Attah raised extra questions when, regardless of dropping a large choice, he was in a position to pepper the champion with clear photographs, after which Freitas appeared sloppy in getting a stoppage over Juan Carlos Ramirez. He managed to maintain profitable, however going into the struggle with Barrios, Freitas’ world was in reality crumbling round him: his father had misplaced a battle with most cancers, and his spouse was divorcing him.
A much more jagged, rough-cut character, Barrios was unknown to most boxing followers outdoors of Argentina, and his popularity had been that of an area powerful earlier than he racked up some significant wins. Even earlier than turning to boxing full time, Barrios was a literal avenue fighter who additionally labored as a safety guard at a bowling alley. Common appearances on the Argentinian boxing program “Combate House” established him as a wily windmill of a person whose fights may go in any route. He got here to be often known as “La Hiena,” or “The Hyena,” for his infectious giggle and devil-may-care way of living, inside and out of doors of the ring.
The identical yr that Barrios suffered his solely defeat to that time, a disqualification to Cesar Domine in 1997, he was named “Prospect of the 12 months” by the boxing press in Argentina. He wasn’t untalented, having turned down a possible spot within the 1996 Olympics to as a substitute struggle as an expert, however Barrios was usually accused of utilizing his head and elbows excessively, maybe a product of combating with an excessive amount of abandon. Of Barrios’ 39 wins, 29 got here inside the space, nevertheless messy. However flattened nostril, scar tissue and all, towards Freitas he was a 4-to-1 underdog, with 3-to-2 odds that the struggle can be over by spherical eight.
“I consider each fighter deserves respect as a result of, on the time of the struggle, something can occur,” stated Freitas in a pre-fight interview. “Barrios has devastating punching energy and he has a number of expertise.” It could have been feigned respect, however it was nonetheless appropriate, and Freitas’ coach Oscar Suarez additionally voiced warning and excessive regard. “Barrios is a powerful fighter. He strikes laterally. You possibly can see the expertise and high quality in him. I consider the Argentinians are like Mexicans and Puerto Ricans, actual powerful fighters. They take photographs they usually reply.”
Freitas’ private points have been apparently identified to Barrios, who loudly trashed the champion’s appearances in commercials for shaving lotions, shampoos and different merchandise, and even teased him about his marital issues. Barrios repeatedly stated “papas fritas” (French fries) moderately than “Popo” Freitas throughout press conferences, poking enjoyable on the champion’s longtime nickname, and it visibly aggravated the usually-grinning champion.
A few of the annoyance might have been evident within the opening spherical. A pointy begin from Freitas veered off the trail and he went wild, seemingly from a mixture of Barrios’ awkward fashion and the pre-fight aggravation. Barrios was rattled by the champion’s assault, however he fought again exhausting within the second earlier than being reduce over the left eye in spherical three by a proper hand Freitas had lined him up for. The motion wasn’t one-sided, nevertheless, as Barrios landed smacking, pawing photographs between leaping left hooks, and he was pushing the tempo with quantity and physicality on the within, even when he was dropping rounds. It was fast-paced, bruising motion all the best way.
On the finish of the sixth, blood in Barrios’ ear canal led the ringside physician to find out he had a busted ear drum, however when requested if he needed to go on, the challenger stated the one phrase wanted: sure. Persevering with to tough up the champion when he may, Barrios’ left eye and cheek have been lined in a stream of blood because of Freitas’ jab, however Barrios took care of that by truly dabbing his face on referee Jorge Alonso’s sleeve within the seventh.
In spherical eight Barrios got here again to land a powerful jab that despatched the champion down, unharmed, and shocked the gang. Up and as soon as once more smiling, Freitas used his legs and made Barrios, who now had a slight reduce and reddening over his proper eye, chase him in rounds 9 and ten. With the struggle doubtlessly slipping away, Barrios got here again to land a one-two that scored a tough knockdown in spherical eleven and had Freitas spitting his mouthpiece to purchase additional time, which he acquired.
Freitas held on in a panic, and Barrios attacked and mugged him on the ropes earlier than slowing down within the last minute. Then, proper on the bell, Freitas landed a proper hand that utterly fried Barrios’ circuits and had his physique locked up earlier than he crashed to the canvas. Someway he acquired to his ft, however he needed to be led to his nook the place his handlers tried to revive him. It didn’t work.
Spherical twelve started and Barrios, who clearly hadn’t recovered, virtually instantly went down from a mixture. Exhibiting great coronary heart, the challenger rose and tried to struggle his method out of bother, however a glancing proper hand despatched him to the canvas but once more. He acquired up on curler skates and the referee had no alternative however to deliver an finish to the thrilling battle.
Each males have been hoisted into the air on numerous shoulders, hugging one another in an incredible present of respect after such a dramatic and exhausting battle. Perhaps this shouldn’t have been shocking since these two males weren’t that completely different; each had grown up impoverished and needed to struggle, actually and figuratively, to get the place they have been. Their paths had converged and each proved their mettle on the battlefield that evening. Nationalist zeal had helped spark the fireworks between these two proud warriors, however ultimately mutual respect eclipsed all enmity and bitterness. — Patrick Connor
