Favored Casamayor faces noted puncher in Freitas

Dean Juipe

Friday, Jan. 11, 2002 | 10:40 a.m.

With a flurry of uncomplimentary and insensitive remarks directed toward his opponent, Joel Casamayor has taken it upon himself to carry the promotional duties for his Saturday fight with Acelino Freitas at the Cox Pavilion.

It was a war of words fueled and driven by Casamayor, with Freitas something of an unwitting accomplice.

Yet boxing matches are won or lost in the ring, and the question that arises is a simple one: Can Casamayor keep his aggressiveness in line once the bell rings, or will he be so intent on making good on his prediction of an "easy fight" that he leaves himself open against a noted puncher?

"He's had terse words for other opponents before, so I'm not worried about that too much," Casamayor's trainer, Joe Goossen, said Thursday of his man's penchant for trash talk. "If anything, the things he has said might increase his resolve.

"Emotionally, what he has said won't affect how he fights. But if it does, I'll be right there to remind him."

Casamayor is the reigning World Boxing Association champion at 130 pounds and is a former Olympic gold medalist with a professional record of 26-0 with 16 knockouts. He's a minus 140 betting favorite in the sports book at the host site, Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.

Freitas is 30-0 with 29 KOs and is a plus 120 underdog.

An odd round proposition bet is also posted, as it's a minus 140 the fight will go 10 of its scheduled 12 rounds and a plus 120 that it will not.

"You've got to remember, Joel trained for this fight three different times," Goossen said, explaining Casamayor's frustration with Freitas. "In each case he got his hopes up, got his emotions up, and then ... boom, Freitas is a no-show.

"That led to his antagonism toward Freitas, but I won't let it distract from what he needs to do to win the fight."

As for whether Casamayor is intent on proving he can punch with a puncher, Goossen says that's not necessarily so.

"Would he like to stop Freitas? Yes, of course," he said. "But would we take a decision win? No doubt.

"I think Joel will take the fight as it comes. He can't go in there like a home run hitter trying to hit a home run.

"What I want him to do is just make contact."