Aceino “Popó” Freitas announced last Monday (6) that he definitely hung his gloves. At age 50, the four -time boxing champion said he ended his career after the widespread confusion at the Spaten Fight Night in Sao Paulo.
The announcement, made during a news conference with the Fight Music Show 7, marked another farewell of the boxer to the sport in almost three decades of trajectory.
Popó Retirement
The first retirement announcement took place in April 2006, after the victory over American Zahir Raheem. At that moment, he had won the main belts of WBO and WBA and decided to stop at the height.
Less than a year later, however, he returned to the ring to try to unify the titles of the lightweight category, in a duel with Juan Díaz. After taking many blows, he abandoned the fight on the eighth round and again declared the end of his career.
In 2012, while holding the mandate of federal deputy for Bahia, the former champion returned once again. He faced young Michael Oliveira, then unbeaten, and won by knockout in ninth round. Shortly after the triumph, he announced another retirement.
Three years later, in 2015, he returned again to face Argentine Mateo “El Chino” Verón. Two years later, in November 2017, he did what he called the official farewell to professional boxing by defeating Mexican Gabriel “El Rey” Martínez.
Even after the rings’ removal, the Bahian continued accepting challenges in display fights. In 2022, he tied with Whindersson Nunes in the first Fight Music Show and since then accumulated victories about José Landi-Jons, Junior Dublê, Kleber Bambam and Jorge “El Chino”. After this last combat in October 2024, he said he would no longer face professional athletes.
Still, Popó returned in September this year, replacing Vitor Belfort in the confrontation against Wanderlei Silva. He won by disqualification ,. The confusion resulted in 180 -day punishment applied by the National Boxing Council both Popó and Wanderlei.
During the conference in which he announced the definitive end of his career ,.
“It was one of the worst humiliation I had in my life as a fighter. This shame is one of the reasons I stop today. I don’t want to know about boxing anymore,” he said.
With 44 professional struggles and 42 wins, 34 by knockout, Popó ends his career with another official retirement. Although part of the press counts four farewells, including the 2007 break the count rises to five.
