CNB Suspends Popó, Wanderlei and Four Others After Spaten Fight Night Brawl

Overview

• Brazil’s National Boxing Council suspended six participants from CNB‑sanctioned events: 180 days for Acelino “Popó” Freitas, Wanderlei Silva, Iago Freitas and Luis Claudio Freitas, 90 days for Lucas Silva, and 365 days for André “Dida” Amado.
• The council said it cannot formally punish unlicensed individuals involved in the melee but will recommend blocking their entry to future sanctioned events for a period yet to be defined.
• The chaos began when Wanderlei Silva was disqualified in the fourth round for illegal strikes, after which both teams flooded the ring and confrontations escalated into physical assaults.
• Video and eyewitness accounts show Rafael Freitas, Popó’s son, entering the ring and striking Silva, who was knocked down and taken to a hospital; Silva later reported multiple facial fractures and said he will pursue legal remedies.
• Popó publicly called for reconciliation and posted a message praising Silva’s career after undergoing surgery on his right hand, as attorneys signaled potential criminal proceedings tied to the incident.