Wanderlei Silva was supposed to box Vitor Belfort at Spaten Fight Night 2 later this month (Sept. 27, 2025), but unfortunately, “The Phenom” suffered a grade 3 concussion during training and that fight is being postponed until 2026.
Silva will still compete on the Sao Paulo, Brazil-based card … and against a potentially much tougher opponent.
Indeed, Spaten Fight Night just announced that “The Axe Murderer” will face former Brazilian boxing champion, Acelino “Popo” Freitas, who retired in 2007 with a 40-2 record and 34 knockouts.
“Illustrious Wanderlei, I am deeply saddened to learn that your fight at Spaten Fight Night will not take place as planned,” Freitas wrote on social media. “However, after 34 knockouts in my career, I will have the honor of making you my thirty-fifth. On the 27th, I will extend my hand to you. In this case, a hand of stone!”
We weren’t too hot on the idea of Silva boxing at all, considering the PRIDE FC recently submitted an affidavit in UFC’s antitrust case revealing he suffered from several symptoms linked to traumatic brain injury. At least he was supposed to fight Belfort, a fellow aged-out mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter with little formal boxing experience.
But, “Popo” is a two-time Super Featherweight and two-time Lightweight champion in boxing. His 27-fight knockout streak is one of the longest in the history of boxing. In short, this is one of those fights where the MMA guy could take a beating.
Fortunately, this probably isn’t going to be a violent affair.
Hopefully, it’s the same with “Popo” and Wand.
