Highly-respected boxing trainer Orlando Cuellar has predicted a knockout victory for his fighter, undefeated prospect Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira (17-0, 12 KOs), June 2 against Brazilian living legend and four-time world champion, Acelino “Popo” Freitas (38-2, 32 KOs), at Conrad Punta Del Este and Resort Casino in Uruguay.
The 10-round Freitas-Oliveira main event headlines the “History In The Making” card, presented by MO Productions, airing live on TV Global in Brazil and Uruguay television.
“Not only will Michael expose ‘Popo’ – I know this is a bold statement – but he will stop him,” a confident Cuellar predicted. “This is a great opportunity for Michael on a grand stage. ‘Popo’ won’t finish this fight on his feet.
“Michael will beat ‘Popo.’ He’s shown progress in fights as well as in the gym to make this leap up. He’s been sparring with world-class fighters and doing very well. Freitas is a step up for Michael but ‘Popo’ is not as young anymore and he has been inactive for awhile. Michael is younger, bigger, faster and stronger. He may lack experience but he listens and makes adjustments. We’ve been working hard on the right strategy to win. Michael Oliveira is ready to shock the world.”
Between 1995 and 2007, Freitas defeated Joel Casamayor, Daniel Attah, Juan Carlos Ramirez, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios and Artur Grigorian. Freitas’ only two losses were to the late Diego Corrales and Juan Diaz in his last fight. “Popo” is a four-time World Champion who captured the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) lightweight title, as well as the WBO Super Featherweight Championship twice and World Boxing Association (“WBA”) crown.
Oliveira, the reigning WBC South American Middleweight Champion who is world rated No. 13 by the WBC at 160 pounds, started fighting professionally as a super middleweight. His last two fights have been contested at middleweight and he’ll be fighting at 154-pounds for the first time against Freitas.
“Michael has gone through a combination of things to drop his weight and maintain his strength,” Cuellar explained. “He’s been eating right, though a nutritionist’s plan, and working even harder than ever in training. Michael bought into this and when ‘Popo’ sees what Michael looks like at the weigh in, he’s going to know that he’s in trouble. Michael’s new look is intimidating. Jaws are going to drop when people see him at the weigh in.”
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Oliveira moved with his family to Miami when he was only two weeks old. Now, he’s preparing to fight his native country’s greatest boxers, second to only Hall of Famer Eder Jofre.
“Michael won’t have extra weight behind his punch at 154 pounds,” Cuellar concluded, “but he’s lost weight and kept muscle density. He has more muscles and is lighter. He’ll have speed and power at 154. We may keep him fighting at this weight, or he could go down to 147. He’s chiseled with a six-pack stomach. He looks fantastic; his body is hard. He listens and believes in what I say. He will have specific instructions for this fight. Michael’s going to pull this off, trust me, and in fantastic fashion.”
