June 10 - HBO 5:30 pm
Acelino Freitas vs. Lemuel Nelson
(For the WBO Jr LW Title)
This will be a most exciting match up. I have been hoping to see the double fisted KO
artist Acelino fight, and HBO gives us this opportunity. Acelino is the light weight's
version of Vitali Klitschko. All of the young Brazilian's wins have come inside the
distance, and he boasts a 25-0 record, all KO's. In his last bout (and 3rd defense of the
WBO belt) he stopped veteran Javier Jauregui in 1 round this past March. In the
match proceeding that, and his second defense of the belt, he stopped tough and former WBO
super fly champ Barry Jones in his second defense of the belt. Barry was undefeated prior
to Acelino's 8 round destruction of him this past Jan. Acelino acquired the WBO belt this
past Aug with a devastating first round stoppage of Anatoly Alaexandrov. He defends his
title for the fourth time against WBO #1 ranked Lemuel.
Lemuel is a Pensacola based boxer who is currently under the management and training of
Roy Jones Jr. He has won his past 8 bouts, and comes of his best victory to date, with a
unanimous nod to WBO #2 ranked Ariel Nistal in a WBO title eliminator bout this past Jan.
Lemuel trains hard, and boasts a record of 19, 2 10 KO's. In has past few fights, he has
been the busier fighter and has hard fought some pretty tough rounds. He hasn't shown the
polish of KO puncher, and is complacent with going the distance to convincing wins. Will
he be able to go the distance with Acelino?
Probably not!
Lemuel has never faced a man in the ring like he's going to face tonight. Acelino is
mobile, quick and has DEVASTATING one punch KO power in both hands. Lemuel won't even know
what hit him. Roy Jones prodigy or not, Lemuel will end the match on his back.
Freitas inside 6
Bronco McKart vs. Jason Papillion
This should prove to be an exciting match up as well. This is the rematch. Bronco beat
Jason this past Sep via a 10 round decision (as predicted).
Bronco has only lost 2 times in his career. Once in May of 96, he lost his WBO Jr MW belt
to Ronald Wright, and once early in his career, a 4 round decision to a nobody Clayton
Williams in like his 8th pro fight. Other than that, he has performed well, and continues
his title campaign. Just why he is fighting Jason again is beyond me. Jason did give him a
run for his money, but Jason has everything to gain and Bronco has everything to lose.
Bronco is currently ranked #10 by the WBC, #4 by the IBF and #5 by the WBO. Jason is not
ranked by ANY world organization, but is currently ranked #1 as a TOMATO CAN!
In their first match up, I expected Bronco to stop him inside of 5, and Jason took him the
distance. This time Bronco needs to do better than the distance or it may effect his
ranking. Come on Bronco . . . the world is watching.
McKart inside 8
June 11 - Fox Sports
8:00 pm
Lance Whitaker vs. Thomas Williams
Lance continues on the comeback trail. I expected him to stop Lou Savarese (Tyson's next
opponent) this past Mar, but much to my chagrin, Lou pulled out the split decision. Lance
continued after that first loss to take the veteran Monte Barret the distance to a split
decision win this past Aug. Lance is a huge heavy weight, at 6'8" with an 86"
reach. He generates good KO power, but is a little sluggish in hand speed. Most of his
stoppages come from an accumulation of punches as opposed to the one punch KO power many
posses in the heavy weight division. Lance was originally supposed to fight Alex Garcia,
but now he vies against Thomas Williams.
Thomas comes from the mean streets of the nations capitol, D.C. He's what I call a club
fighter. A professional opponent. In reality, he's just fodder for the heavy weight
prospect Lance. Thomas, when faced with heavy handed opposition, gets stopped. Dannel
Nicholson stopped him in 2 rounds in Aug 97 and in 95, he lost back to back matches by KO
to nobody's Don Steele and Richie Melito. Thomas is a stepping stone for Lance. Make no
bones about it. Lances trainer and promoter Dan Goosen would like to see Lance in world
contention, and what better way than by impressive, fast KO's . . .
Whitaker inside 4
In Retrospect:
Acelino Freitas vs. Lemuel Nelson
As expected.
WBO jr lightweight champion Acelino Freitas successfully defended his title with a
spectacular KO against #1 contender Lemuel Nelson. Freitas came out agressively in round
one, was dropped by a Nelson right hand, then came back to stagger Nelson. Freitas
continued to stalk in round two, knocked Nelson down midway through the round, then
finished the job at the bell. Freitas, now 26-0 (26 KOs), showed the crowd at the Fox
Theater in Detroit and a worldwide TV audience why he is one of the most exciting fighters
in the sport.
Bronco McKart vs. Jason Papillion
Almost as expected.
McKart wins NABF jr middle belt!
WBC/IBF/WBO rated local hero Bronco McKart won a good action twelve-round decision
over Jason Papillion to take Papillion's 154-lb. belt. The game Papillion was down in
round one but hung in to take McKart the route.
Lance Whitaker vs. Thomas Williams
As expected.
Heavyweight contender Lance "Mount" Whitaker 20-1 (17 KOs) floored late sub
Thomas Williams once in round one and twice in round two...the final time for the full
count at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, OK. Whitaker's lethal right hand landed hard and
often. Williams slipped on some ring apron advertising in round one that limited his
mobility.
