MAX KELLERMAN'S POST-FIGHT INTERVIEWS

Max Kellerman interviewed both Acelino Freitas and Zahir Raheem directly after the fight.

April 29, 2006

KELLERMAN:
Congratulations. Do you feel redeemed after this fight in wake of the Corrales fight?

FREITAS:
After Corrales I learned a lot. I knew the fight today would be very hard. The fight was very tough. I learned a lot the last fight.

KELLERMAN:
You seemed very bothered by the head butt. Were you stunned? Did you feel hurt by it?

FREITAS:
It was hurting him a lot. I felt a lot of pain because it was cold. It was warm. I felt light-headed. I knows it was an accident.

KELLERMAN:
There was a sense of urgency from Oscar Suarez, your corner as if you needed to step up the attack. You never really turned into the old Acelino Freitas. You never really rushed him as you used to rush opponents. Did you feel a sense of urgency?

FREITAS:
As a good corner like Oscar is, he knows Freitas very well. I'm very happy to have a coach like that.

KELLERMAN:
Did the Brazilian fans get you pumped up in the last two rounds of the fight? You seemed to fight better when they started chanting your name.

FREITAS:
It helped me a lot.

KELLERMAN:
The recognized lightweight champion will be the winner of Corrales/Castillo. Do you want the winner of that fight?

FREITAS:
It would be good for him to think about that but for now he wants to enjoy his family.

KELLERMAN:
Congratulations, Acelino Freitas.

FREITAS:
Want to thank you you helped us so much. Thank you, everybody. Thank you, thank you very much. God Bless America.

KELLERMAN:
Lennox Lewis just said, the decision could of gone either way and many people feel this way. The close decisions in your career have not seemed to go your way so far.

RAHEEM:
They don't seem to have gone my way at all, Max. I'm going to keep fighting because I'm a champ...I'm going to keep going until I have a title.

KELLERMAN:
You're in Foxwoods. He's from Brazil. You are from Philly. What is your hometown?

RAHEEM:
Philadelphia. Look around it's unbelievable. I was shocked when I came into the arena.

KELLERMAN:
You got off to a slow start. You seemed to take control in the middle of the night. You feel the late round got away from you?

RAHEEM:
No Max. He was very awkward. I couldn't really get any of my shots. So I started switching things up. He hit me with a couple good shots. I took them. I said I'm going for the gusto. Trying to wear him down. I was trying everything - I wanted to win.

KELLERMAN:
You hit him with three, four shots. I have forgotten the round. The round in which you body slammed him essentially. He was holding on to you. He seemed to clear his head. Frustrated you pushed him off. Round six, his back slammed on the canvas. You went to your knees, begging the referee, not to, what disqualify you what was going through your mind?

RAHEEM:
Not to give me a point. Like you said the history of referees is scarred in my brain. I was apologetic. I was very apologetic. He was hurting me. I could feel how hard he was holding me. Don't disqualify me. Whatever it takes. I apologize. When I felt him hold on. I knew I hurt him. I continued taking shots. I hurt him with a couple shots.

KELLERMAN:
You seem to be back to where you started from the risk won't be the risk still won't be worth the reward for most fighters. What does Raheem do?

RAHEEM:
I don't know Max - just keep fighting. Don't give up.

KELLERMAN:
Congratulations on the effort. I thought you won it - it was close.

RAHEEM:
Appreciate it.