RIO DE JANEIRO — Wanderlei Silva will face former WBA and WBO world champion Acelino Freitas in a boxing exhibition Saturday night time in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and guarantees a spectacular efficiency contained in the ring.
The legendary MMA fighter, a former PRIDE champion and UFC Corridor of Famer, makes his first stroll to a boxing ring at age 49 towards Freitas, who changed Vitor Belfort on a month’s discover in the principle occasion of Spaten Struggle Evening 2.
“They’re making a gift of a fats bonus,” Silva mentioned on a latest media day in Brazil. “A really beneficiant bonus for the win and the knockout, virtually R$ 500,000 ($94,000), and I need to take that bonus again house. … That’s what I need with this match, to put in writing my identify in boxing historical past with only one match. It will likely be largest debut in boxing historical past, and I’ll knock out the four-time world champion.”
Silva mentioned he needed to show Belfort was “fortunate” to beat him in 1998, and was “disenchanted” to listen to “The Phenom” was out of their rematch.
“However I used to be very joyful that they discovered a worthy substitute — an excellent higher one,” Silva mentioned of 50-year-old Freitas. “‘Popo’ is a significantly better boxer than my earlier opponent, and I’m positive it’s going to be an amazing fight. Belfort was out of what can be the rematch of the century put they introduced ‘Popo’ in, which has boosted the cardboard.”
“I really like the truth that he accepted the problem, it was very courageous of him,” he added. “I hope he doesn’t come overconfident as a result of he may get in hassle. Though I’m not a pure boxer, I’ve skilled boxing for a very long time.”
Silva mentioned he’s been coaching for this match for six months, however the plan modifications a bit now that Freitas, 41-2 as an expert, has changed Belfort. Silva’s coach Andre Dida mentioned that “The Axe Assassin” can’t be too technical and count on to outbox an skilled boxer like Freitas.
“If we go there attempting to trade data with ‘Popo’, he’ll clearly win,” Dida instructed MMA Preventing. “However Wanderlei will comply with that previous Mike Tyson quote, everyone has a plan till they eat the primary punch. He’ll really feel Wanderlei’s palms and perceive why he’s the axe. Wanderlei’s aggressiveness breaks any approach.”
“My technique is to punch him,” Silva mentioned. “I’ll go there to drop him. That’s it. I believe he was very courageous to simply accept this battle, and I’m going there to make him kiss the canvas. I’m some of the aggressive athletes on the planet, and I’m right here to drop him him or anybody else.”
Silva introduced his retirement in 2022 however saved the door open for boxing matches sooner or later. Two years later, the previous PRIDE champion and UFC title contender wrote a letter in help for the UFC antitrust settlement revealing he was coping with well being points after many years of coaching and preventing.
“Whereas preventing for the UFC, I suffered many vital accidents, together with concussions,” Silva wrote on the time. “I concern that in my profession I’ve suffered traumatic mind harm (TBI) and am noticing signs frequent with TBI and CTE together with despair, temper swings, and irritability. … I undergo from sleep apnea and have problem sleeping and respiration. That I can recall, I’ve had 4 surgical procedures on my nostril, 1 on my face, 2 on my left knee, 1 on my proper knee and 1 on my elbow.”
A 12 months after the letter grew to become public, Silva enters the ring towards some of the skilled boxers in Brazil historical past, a person with 34 knockouts in 41 skilled wins.
“No [concerns], none,” Silva mentioned. “As a result of for you do a battle like this you need to do a collection of exams, and I’ve carried out all of the exams. I’m doing nice, feeling well-prepared, and I’m tremendous excited. I’m very joyful to be coaching. I’ve misplaced virtually 22 kilos, I’m skinny, so I’m feeling nice. It’s fantastic to be right here once more. I used to be already sort of retired, and this present is being so superior — actually, hats off to Spaten for coming to battle [business], to martial arts, and for selling such a lovely occasion.”
Freitas, 50, retired from skilled boxing in 2007 however got here again so as to add three extra wins between 2012 and 2017. He’s staying lively within the influencer boxing world with a handful of victories between 2022 and 2025, most by knockout. Silva, however, hasn’t competed since a 2018 knockout defeat to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in Bellator. He admits that he needed to change a number of issues in the way in which he works within the gymnasium to be again in battle form at his age.
“I’m coaching a bit smarter, not getting hit that a lot,” Silva mentioned. “Previously we thought that the extra you bought hit, the extra we might deal with, however it’s the alternative. On the identical time, I’m coaching rather well. I don’t prepare with anybody of my age. The oldest man within the gymnasium is 15 years youthful than me. I can sustain with them. It takes time so that you can get again to rhythm and prepare. Folks at Brazilian TKO, coach Andre Dida, they actually have an amazing coaching system. It’s on level, and I’m feeling ready for this battle.”
