Acelino “Popo” Freitas, though lacking his usual punching rhythm, relied on a heavy right hand to totally dominate Artur Grigorian in winning the latter’s WBO lightweight crown with a unanimous 12-round decision Saturday in a test of the undefeated at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Ct.

Freitas,135, out of Salvador, Brazil, having made a TNT reputation by kayoing his first 29 opponents, kept the pressure on the long-reigning Grigorian, 134, from Hamburg, Germany, while punching on the outside throughout in ending the incumbent’s string of 17
defenses reaching back to 1996.

For South America’s charismatic super star, it was his third world crown although the WBA/ WBO junior lightweight titles were on hold. Freitas, 28, winning for the sixth time in the United States, raised his credentials to 36-0, 31 KOs while finishing unmarked in the action televised by Showtime’s cable network.

Grigorian, 36, originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was highly confident his southpaw style would pose problems for the agile Freitas, whose road game was going to war at the opening bell. Admittedly slow out of the gate, the mustachioed champion learned early Freitas wasn’t going to let him inside for worthy exchanges.

It was Grigorian’s American debut and first start in 50 weeks with the scenario clear early he would need a knockout to keep his resume from dipping to 36-1, 22 KOs.

It wasn’t a tough night for the judges even though only one of four knockdowns appeared legitimate. And that came in round four when Freitas dropped Grigorian
with a solid right hand. The adoped German also was on the floor in the sixth, seventh, and eighth rounds but referee Ed Cotton appeared in error in not ruling a “slip” on several calls.

In the final scoring, judges Don O’Neill and Dwight Sammartino both scored it116-107 while Melvina Lathan had it 115-108.

Earlier in the sixth round. Grigorian drew an “eight count” from the referee, but it appeared more of a push than the right Freitas had landed.

Freitas was warned by Cotton for a low blow earlier in the seventh. The challenger had fallen into the ropes and followed with a right and then used his left hand to push Grigorian down at mid-ring. Again the referee ruled a knockdown, drawing a negative response from the audience.

Freitas complained of an accidental head butt in the
eighth round, but ignored the automatic five-minute breather the referee suggested. Brazil’s idol shook Grigorian with a four-punch combination and then appeared to score big with a punch to the top of the
head before seemingly pushing Grigorian down before the bell.

The accuracy Freitas was missing with his combinations in the early rounds began to find the mark in the ninth and 10th with Grigorian unable to keep up with the heralded Latino’s speed and power. Freitas scored well with double combinations to the head and body even though he was still punching from the outside. Freitas was penalized a point for a low blow in the10th.

In the final six minutes, Freitas was on his toes, dancing on the outside and was still landing that hard right hand to the frustrated Grigorian’s head and
body.

Freitas, trainer Oscar Suarez, and promoter Art Pelullo of Philadelphia were pleased with the now triple world champion’s performance in his first start since Aug.9 when he got off the floor to win the WBA 130-pound title by kayoing Jorge Barrios in the 11th round in Miami, Fla.

Freitas, who turned pro in 1995, is now 12-0 in world
championship fights.

“I’ll admit I was a little wild tonight. That can happen
once in a while. It was our plan to fight on the outside because we figured Grigorian would be trying to get inside. I did have a little trouble with my accuracy early, but I was surprised Grigorian took as many of my rights as he did,” Freitas said with Suarez translating.

“Some media wanted to know if I’ll stay at 135 or go back to 130, mentioning there is still some big money
fights there. We’ll talk with Art Pelullo and see what’s out there. It’s not just the money, but to me it’s also the glory about winning. I still get questioned about a rematch with Joel Casamayor.”

The co-feature was almost the scene-stealer when Kassim “The Dream’’ Ouma, 155, Palm Beach, Fla., exploded in the 10th round to TKO Juan Carlos Candelo, 154, Denver, Colo., in an IBF junior middleweight elimination bout.

Going in, Ouma was the IBF No.1 contender with Candelo ranked No.2 in fhis scheduled 12-round bout.

Ouma, now 19-1-1, 12 KOs, relied on his speed and power to set the pace but Candelo, now 26-6-2, 18 KOs, countered sporadically to stay in the chase.

Ouma caught Candleo with a seven-punch combination late in the ninth round and then dropped him with a vicious left-hook. Candleo got to his feet on an eight-count from referee Michael Ortega and just managed to make it back to his corner.

Ouma, a southpaw, wasn’t going to let his target get away, raking Candleo with some mean body shots that dropped him on his side. Erect once again, the gritty Candleo was shaken by combinations and the referee wisely halted the action after 15 seconds.

(Jack Welsh is a syndicated columnist headquartered in Las Vegas and a regular contributor to Ringsports.com and other fine websites).1