- published: 19 Apr 2012
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Acelino "Popó" Freitas (Portuguese pronunciation: [asɛˈlĩnu pɔˈpɔ ˈfɾejtɐs]; born September 21, 1975) is a Brazilian politician and professional boxer. In the sport, he is a former WBO and WBA (Super) super featherweight champion, as well as a two-time WBO lightweight champion. After retiring from boxing, Freitas went into politics, and was elected as a legislator for the state of Bahia, from 2011 to 2014.
His nickname, Popó, was given to him by his mother, after the sound that babies make while drinking milk. Freitas had a difficult childhood, often sleeping on a sandy floor at his house. Since early in his life, he dreamed of a better place to live for his family. A skilled football player, he was more inclined, however, towards the sport of boxing since an early age. Fellow Brazilian Eder Jofre, generally recognized as the greatest world champion to come out of that country, was one of Freitas' childhood heroes.
Freitas competed for his native country and won a lightweight silver medal at the Pan American Games 1995 in Mar del Plata.
Diego "Chico" Corrales (August 25, 1977 – May 7, 2007) was an American professional boxer who held the WBC, WBO and The Ring magazine lightweight titles, as well as the WBO and IBF super featherweight titles.
In 2005, Corrales received the prestigious Fight of the Year award by both The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America for his acclaimed first bout with José Luis Castillo.
Corrales was born in Sacramento, California to a Colombian father, Diego Corrales Sr. and a Mexican mother. Corrales' early life was filled with violence; he was raised in the Oak Park section of Sacramento, was involved with street gangs at age 13, and witnessed his best friend's death via drive-by shooting. Corrales had a degree in culinary arts. He trained at "Sac Pal" (Sacramento Police Athletic League) Boxing Gym.
Corrales compiled an amateur boxing record of 105-12. In 1994, he took second place at the United States Amateur Championships, losing to Frankie Carmona on points in the featherweight final. He was a bronze medalist at featherweight in the 1995 Pan American Games. At lightweight, he lost in the 1995 World Championships in Berlin, Germany to Marco Rudolph.