Popó x Bambam bombs and arrives on Globo, but legacy worries – 02/22/2024 – Sport

The card headlined by the duel between former boxing champion in two weight categories Acelino “Popó” Freitas and Kleber Bambam, who gained fame after being champion of the first edition of the reality show Big Brother Brasil, scheduled for this Saturday, in São Paulo (SP), explains the popularity of entertainment boxing.

Rede Globo announces the broadcast of the main fight on open TV after Supercine, at 2:45 am on Sunday morning.

The sport, both in Brazil and abroad, has as one of its differences in relation to traditional boxing the participation of celebrities and influencers with legions of followers.

The last time Globo had shown a boxing card it also included the form of entertainment, with the clash between former UFC champions Anderson “Spider” Silva and Tito Ortiz and the fight between the former unified heavyweight and cruiserweight champion of boxing Evander Holyfield and former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, on September 11, 2021.

The report from Sheet found out from a channel source that the audience potential, attractiveness of the “names” involved, the fight promotion, in addition to the fact that live events are on the rise, weighs in favor of cards like these.

The CEO of the Fight Music Show, which promotes Popó x Bambam, Márcio “Mama” Brito, cousin of former UFC champion Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira, reveals that negotiations for the debut of the former Big Brother They lasted two years and involved trips to Miami (USA).

Bambam, who has attended boxing events in Brazil in recent months, says he has been preparing for months. He posted some clips of his shadow training (non-contact movement) and on the punching bag, but nothing of any relevance.

The popularity of entertainment boxing is largely due to the participation of celebrities and influencers, who help to attract a new audience, explains Mamá. In this Saturday’s edition, there will also be a confrontation between Nego do Borel and MC Gui.

“It’s the kid who likes pop culture and is curious about watching [comediante, youtuber e ex-rival de Popó] Whindersson Nunes in the ring, is the lady who consumes news about Big Brother Brasil, is amazed by BamBam in boxing, and wants to check it out; the idea is to attract those who don’t normally follow boxing,” she says.

There are also other “ingredients” that help capture the public’s imagination. One is the result of provocations on Bambam’s part.

“You’re going to watch the event because you think it’s possible for Bambam to beat Popó, you’re going to check it out because he talks so much”, argues Mamá. “Bambam must weigh about 20 kg more than Popó, and you know that when a hand catches you, there’s no way around it”, explains Geysa Carini, president of the CNB (National Boxing Council), who started to supervise the events of the Fight Music Show since the last edition.

“There’s also the issue of ‘trash talking’; Bambam has been talking a lot, and has been very efficient in this regard, so a lot of people will watch the card hoping to see Popó shut Bambam up”, adds Geysa.

As it is a meeting between a former champion in two categories and a newcomer, the rules of traditional boxing were adapted so that, in theory, the punishment suffered is mitigated. The duration of the rounds was reduced from three minutes to two, with a one-minute interval remaining, as well as the number of rounds in the fights was limited. The 12-ounce gloves are larger than those used in traditional boxing, and the weight category limits are more flexible to avoid excessive weight loss, which is harmful to your health.

Unlike what happens in exhibitions, where traditionally the result is a draw, one of the athletes will have to be declared the winner.

“Supervision by a boxing entity guarantees physical integrity; the challenge between Popó and BamBam will have a professional referee, experienced to eventually understand if the punishment is going too far; in addition, at official CNB events it is mandatory to be present of a ring doctor and an ambulance”, argues Geysa.

If there are members of the pugilistic fraternity who turn up their noses at entertainment boxing, a new generation receives it with enthusiasm and watches this type of event without prejudice.

“I’ll watch it, without a doubt, it’s another chance to see boxing [na TV aberta]it’s been a while since that happened”, celebrates professional featherweight Lila Furtado, from Coliseu Boxe Center. “There will be Popó, the women’s fight by Popó’s wife [Emilene Freitas] and a model [Fernanda Lacerda, a ‘Mendigata’]which will show that women can fight without ceasing to be feminine.”

At the same time, athletes question why not take advantage of the popularity of entertainment to publicize traditional boxing talents, like what happens in the cards of the American YouTuber who became an attraction in professional boxing Jake Paul, which feature in their preliminaries performances by the unified champion of the featherweight Amanda Serrano.

“I like these entertainment cards, but [no Brasil] there is a lack of traditional boxing fights, with traditional boxing athletes”, suggests coach Jefferson Acácio, also from the Coliseu. “I would definitely participate in a mixed card, which would have entertainment and traditional boxing”, adds Lila, enthusiastically.

Not necessarily, as some criticized at the beginning of the phenomenon, entertainment boxing occupies the traditional space.

“There are high-level people, like [ex-campeão mundial] Patrick Teixeira, who in Brazil cannot fight on TV, perhaps if it had not been occupied by entertainment boxing, this space on TV Globo, for example, would not exist for any type of boxing”, argues Geysa.

“The trick is to open up space in the media with programs like the Fight Music Show, and perhaps to fit in traditional boxing fights over time”, adds Mamá.

A move in this direction is that in this Saturday’s edition, for the first time, there will be a duel under traditional boxing rules on the card, between Fabio “Caipira de Aço” Maldonado, a boxer who gained more notoriety in MMA, and Leonardo “Leleco” Guimarães.