PHOENIX (AP) The showmanship that accounts for some of Acelino Freitas' popularity in his native Brazil was on display Friday.

The stunning power he generates from a 5-foot-5 body was held in reserve.

Freitas, the WBA and WBO junior lightweight champion, brought a quartet of samba dancers to the weigh-in for his dual title defense against Daniel Attah on Saturday night.

The hot Latin rhythms in the ballroom of a downtown hotel created a sharp contrast to the quiet demeanor of Attah, a 23-year-old Nigerian who lists his hobbies as soccer, Bible study and attending prayer meetings.

But both men have something in common: a background of poverty and deprivation that filled them with a hunger to succeed.

"It will be a night whereby people will say, 'Who is Daniel Attah?"' the challenger said. "And I can answer that question from the top of the ring: 'I am the new world champion."'

Attah has credentials - his 20-0-1 record earned him the WBO's No. 1 challenger ranking.

But he faces a significant obstacle in the undefeated Freitas, a fast-starting, aggressive crowd-pleaser who attracted 52,000 fans in Sao Paulo for his first title defense.

He has defended the WBO crown seven times since taking it from Anatoly Alexandrov on Aug. 7, 1999, and added the more respected WBA title by outpointing Joel Casamayor on Jan. 12.

Freitas hasn't fought since, allowing a broken right hand to heal. Trainer Oscar Suarez, who acts as Freitas' interpreter, said the time off was used to shorten the fighter's punches. Freitas (31-0) won his first 29 bouts by knockout.

"His abilities have increased a whole bunch," Suarez said. "He's become a straight-up puncher. Acelino used to throw angle shots, so basically we have him now throwing straight shots, and he's more accurate. But the most important thing: Acelino is no longer focusing on knocking people out. He's now focusing on winning."

Both boxers weighed in at 130 pounds, ending immediate speculation that Freitas, 26, might have trouble making weight as he matures and be forced into a higher division.

The bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, is a Showtime production. It will follow a NABF super middleweight title bout between champion Antwun Echols and Richard Grant.

Echols (28-4-1) weighed in at 167 - a pound below the limit - and said he planned to use his first professional fight in Phoenix to earn an IBF title shot against champion Sven Ottke of Germany. Echols is ranked third and Grant 10th in an IBF division with no listed No. 1 or No. 2 challenger.

A victory in his 12-round fight also would close out some bad memories of Phoenix, where Echols lost in the 1992 Olympic Boxoffs after opponent Raul Marquez, on the verge of being knocked out, got a break when the timekeeper rang the bell midway through the second round. Marquez recovered to win the decision and the 154-pound spot on the Olympic team.

"This is 2002," Echols said. "This time, I want to show my new style to the public and let the world know that I'm the dominant 168-pounder. This is mandatory for the No. 1 position, and after that I'll fight for the IBF championship."

The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press.