Popó questions Wand's technique and promises a knockout: 'The first hand that lands, it's over'

Wanderlei Silva (left) faces Acelino Popo (right) at Spaten Fight Night 2. Photo: Reproduction

This Saturday (27), in São Paulo, Acelino Popo will star in a new high-profile boxing match. In the main event of the second edition of Spaten Fight Night, the legend of the noble art will face off against Wanderlei Silva, an MMA icon. And the Bahian's excitement is so great that not even the fact that he's coming in as a replacement for Vitor belfort at the last minute, his confidence in the quest for victory diminished.

In an exclusive interview to SUPER FIGHTS50-year-old Popó asserts that once he lands a hit on the Mad Dog's chin, he will succumb immediately. However, some fans are eager for the duel because Wand, 49, has always displayed aggression and violence throughout his career, having made his mark with Pride FC. It's true that Acelino recognizes that the Curitiba native is indeed a savage athlete, but he emphasizes that there's a clear difference in boxing level, especially technique, between them, and that this difference should determine the fight.

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"(He) has aggressive hands, not technical hands. It's different when you fight a guy who's technical with his hands than when he's aggressive with his hands. You'll have to be 100% careful. You don't know what's coming, but he's always heavy-handed. The first hand he lands and swings, he's done. Absolutely," declared the boxing legend.

Interestingly, Wanderlei will be the second professional MMA fighter Popó has faced in boxing. Previously, the Bahian faced José Pele Landy, fur Fight Music Show, in 2022, and needed just over a minute to knock him out. When asked if the Curitiba native would be more prepared to face him, the boxing icon was blunt.

"I don't think so. Pelé came to fight me. Wanderlei prepared to fight Vitor. I think it'll make things a bit more difficult, because I have the same speed that Vitor has, but Vitor doesn't. It's like he said, that he had to change his entire training style," Popó concluded.

Spaten Fight Night 2 fight schedule

Acelino Popó Freitas x Wanderlei Silva (Boxing)

Lightweight (up to 61kg): Beatriz Ferreira x Maira Moneo (Boxing)

Middleweight (up to 74kg): Hebert Conceição x Yamaguchi Falcao (Boxing)

Featherweight (up to 66kg): Thiago Manchinha vs. Wanderson Barcellos (MMA)