FREITAS PROVES HE'S BOSS

INSIDE BOXING (LAS VEGAS) Brazilian knockout artist Acelino Freitas (31-0, 29 KO's) proved he has both the arm and leg strength to handle anyone in the super featherweight (130 pound) division with his victory over the previously unbeaten Cuban defector Joel Casamayor (26-1, 13 KO's).

PHOTO: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME

Freitas now claims both the WBA and WBO super featherweight titles after scoring an impressive unanimous victory Saturday night. Scorecards from all three judges had Freitas winning 114-112.

My own scorecard had Freitas winning 115-111.

The bout featured Casamayor, the boxer against Freitas, the puncher. The lively Freitas stayed on his toes while Casamayor seemed confused and never really figured out what Freitas was up to. Freitas dominated the early rounds and Casamayor was unable to make up the difference in an action packed bout.

Referee Joe Cortez was forced to deduct a point for dirty tactics employed by Casamayor after several warnings were given. Another point deducted from Casamayor for a controversial knockdown (replays showed he was off balance following a punch) was the 2 point deficit the judges decided in favor of Freitas.

There was no need Saturday night to give any sympathy points to Casamayor. After all, he was the one who said Freitas was overrated and would provide no real threat to take his WBA belt. But fellow colleague Steve Kim saw the fight 114-112 in favor of Casamayor.

Such shenanigans again forces the thought of overhead, lighted, round-by-round scoring visible for all to see. A 114-112 victory in favor of Casamayor would have been not only ridiculous but an insult. The best Casamayor could have hoped for was a draw and even that would be giving him nothing to be proud of.

Casamayor (trained by the ever selective Joe Goosen) showed his true colors by running from the ring after the decision was announced. Goosen should have had his fighter remain in the ring, answer all questions and suggest there be a FREITAS vs CASAMAYOR II. Instead, there is no reason for Freitas to entertain the thought of a rematch until Casamayor knocks off the next two or three in line of the super featherweight division awaiting shots at the title.

The meager purse of $400,000 earned by Freitas while Casamayor earned some $900,000 will be reversed should the two ever do battle again.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. moving to the lightweight division proved advantageous to both Freitas and Casamayor. Neither would provide much of a challenge to the lightening quick, smooth boxing and undefeated Mayweather.

A rather dull undercard had Wayne McCullough (24-3, 15 KO's) stop Alvin Williams (17-5) in a scheduled 10 round bantamweight match. The issue for McCullough is still whether a hard blow to the head will put him in a life- threatening situation. Numerous tests had him cleared to resume a boxing career but the nervousness of him in the ring remains.

Olympian Jeff Lacy (7-0, 7 KO's) needed only 50 seconds to dispatch of unknown Fike Williams in a scheduled 10 round super middleweight match. The match was unfortunate for Lacy as I feel he is probably the best of the 2000 Olympians. But a match against someone who does not provide even minimal competition serves no purpose even in the incubation stages of his promising professional career.

Stephen Johnson