Popo's power

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:07

What do you all think of Freitas's power? Is it overrated or not?

Just watching Nate Campbell vs Daniel Attah the other night, & was surprised at how easily hurt Attah looked at times from punches that hardly look devastating, Attah was also stopped in his fight before against an unknown fighter

Freitas's punches however, had little effect on Attah, also Freitas couldnt put a dent in Cuban Joel Casamayor, but Diego Corrales had Casamayor hurt & on the floor, argentine Jorge Barrios seemed to take Freitas's shots until the later rounds when a tired barios got stopped in the 12th

The first time Freitas was taken the distance was against Al Kotey, who had of course began his career at flyweight

Freitas recently stepped up to lightweight, beating WBO champ Artur Grigorian, and although Grigorian was down several times, there only seemed one genuine knockdown & Gregorian heard the final bell

But to be fair to Freitas, Casamayor, Attah, Barios & Grigorian were all undefeated when Acelino faced them, & Al Kotey has never been stopped

Also, Freitas KO'd his first 29 opponents, & destroyed current IBF champ Javier Jauregi, & Jauregi is better than his record suggests, as he holds two stoppage wins over Jose Luis Castillo & has defeated Alex Trujillo, Juan Gomez Trinidad & Levander Johnson, who he won the title against

So, is it a case of his power being overrated, or is it just harder to land his bombs at the highest level?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:13

I think its a combination of the fact that world class fighters tend to have better chins and that Freitas has been trying to box a little more (since joining up with Suarez). Also, maybe the struggle with the scales might have affected his power

Apparently, he had Grigorian in fits during their match, the demonstrates that he is certainly a powerful fighter. Although the fight went the distance, Griogorian was counted 4 times, and hurt on other occasions.

I think Freitas' power is not over-rated, its just even Tyson couldn't get them out all of the time.

shakermaker · Post by **shakermaker** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:20

Freitas has power no doubt about that but as he steps up he meets harder heads and tighter defenses!!!.......good point stu about the changes Suarez has made to his style, who IMO has made Freitas decline as a fighter and look more vulnerable.

Not dropping Joel is nothing to get worried about. Diego is a massive puncher himself and if given the chance he could drop most fighters!

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:30

you can say that about anyone

Like naseem hamed didnt KO Soto and Tpaia did a few years later

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 12 Jan 2004, 18:45

a lot of people thinks its Feitas trainer who ruined him, like hamed

The REAL McCoy · Post by **The REAL McCoy** » 12 Jan 2004, 19:39

[quote="stujones"] Also, maybe the struggle with the scales might have affected his power[/ quote]

Yeah good point Stu, that could well be a factor

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Jan 2004, 20:03

Does anyone know where in hells' name Suarez came from, why do people use him.

I watched him training Hamed once, and I could have told Hamed the things he was saying, he didn't seem to know jack shit.

Freitas isn't looking good it must be said, he looks like Hamed did during the Calvo fight, a fighter who doesn't know what he is supposed to be.

Freitas would be better with a good technical trainer like Manny or Roach, who could file of the rought edges, but still let him fight his style. Roach didn't try and turn Manny into a fancy dan, but he definetly made him harder to hit.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 12 Jan 2004, 20:51

I read somewhere, it might have been boxing monthly, Suarez saying that it is Freitas who wants to show he is the complete article rather than Suarez telling Fretas to change style.

Whilst, I to have raised one or two questions about Freitas and Suarez I do find it odd we are saying Freitas is slipping a week after his 2nd best win.

What happend to Freitas' coach he had for the Jones fight, apart from the first ten seconds - he didn't show many rough edges to me.